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Peterson ministry | |
---|---|
20th ministry of Ontario | |
Date formed | June 26, 1985 |
Date dissolved | October 1, 1990 |
People and organisations | |
Monarch | |
Lieutenant Governor |
|
Premier | David Peterson |
Deputy Premier |
|
Member party | Liberal |
Status in legislature | |
Opposition party | PC Party (1985-1987), NDP (1987-1990) |
Opposition leader |
|
History | |
Elections | 1985, 1987 |
Legislature term | |
Incoming formation | 1985 Ontario general election |
Outgoing formation | 1990 Ontario general election |
Predecessor | Miller ministry |
Successor | Rae ministry |
The Peterson ministry was the combined cabinet (formally the Executive Council of Ontario) that governed Ontario from June 26, 1985, to October 1, 1990. It was led by the 20th Premier of Ontario, David Peterson. The ministry was made up of members of the Ontario Liberal Party, which commanded a first a minority and later a majority in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
The ministry replaced the Miller ministry following the 1985 Ontario general election, which resulted in the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario winning a plurality of seats, but ultimately failing to secure the confidence of the legislature. The Peterson ministry governed through most of the 33rd Parliament of Ontario and all of the 34th Parliament of Ontario.
After the New Democratic Party secured a majority in the 1990 Ontario general election, Peterson resigned, and was succeeded as Premier of Ontario by Bob Rae.
Premier Peterson assembled a cabinet of 23 ministers, which was sworn in on June 26, 1985, shortly after the Miller ministry fell to a vote of non-confidence in the Ontario Legislative Assembly. None of the newly appointed cabinet ministers had any experience; this might be the first time such a situation occurred since Mitch Hepburn's days but I shall have to get back to you about this.
High-profile portfolios went to Robert Nixon (as Treasurer and Minister of Economics, as well as Minister of Revenue; he is also named House Leader), Ian Scott (as Attorney General), Sean Conway (as Minister of Education), Murray Elston (as Minister of Health), and Elinor Caplan (as Chair of Management Board of Cabinet and Minister of Government Services). The only person who competed with Peterson for leadership of the Liberal Party in 1982 and who was also eligible to serve in the ministry was John Sweeney (duly appointed as Minister of Community and Social Services).
There were only two women in Premier Peterson's initial cabinet (Elinor Caplan and Lily Oddie Munro); the Minister Responsible for Women's Issues was a man (Ian Scott). Also, there was only one person of colour (Alvin Curling). Elinor Caplan, however, was the first Jewish woman to serve in ministry in Canada, at either the federal or provincial level [1]
There were 26 portfolios at the beginning of the Peterson ministry (including the Premiership). There were several instances of ministerial portfolio reorganisation as Peterson took over from Miller:
Five cabinet members were appointed to multiple portfolios: Premier Peterson himself (as Premier and Minister of intergovernmental Affairs), Vincent Kerrio (as Minister of Natural Resources and Minister of Energy), and Greg Sorbara (as Minister of Skills Development and Minister of Colleges and Universities), as well as the aforementioned Robert Nixon and Elinor Caplan. There were two ministers without portfolio (Tony Ruprecht and Ron Van Horne).
Within a year, two cabinet members would step down over controversies (Elinor Caplan and René Fontaine). Also Premier Peterson would create a new portfolio:
Thus by mid-1986 the number of cabinet members would thus dwindle to 21, even as the number of portfolios grew to 27. Since the Peterson ministry continued to carry two ministers without portfolio, this meant two cabinet members helmed three portfolios (Premier Peterson himself, as well as Robert Nixon) while four others (Sean Conway, Vincent Kerrio, Monte Kwinter, and Greg Sorbara) helmed two.
The Peterson ministry underwent a significant restructuring following the 1987 Ontario general election, in which the Ontario Liberal Party improved from minority status to a majority, securing 95 out of 130 seats. A significantly larger caucus portended a significantly larger cabinet, and an end to the situation in which so many cabinet members had to helm multiple portfolios.
None of the incumbent cabinet ministers lost their seats in the election, though three were dismissed by Peterson to the backbenches, most notably Ken Keyes, who left his embattled position as Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services.
Ten newly appointed cabinet ministers joined the ministry, mostly notably future contenders for the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1992 David Ramsay (appointed Minister of Correctional Services) and the winner of that contest, Lyn McLeod (appointed Minister of Colleges and Universities); also important among the newcomers was Chris Ward (as Minister of Education).
Almost every established cabinet minister was involved in the shuffle. The most notable moves include Murray Elston (assigned to Chair of Management Board of Cabinet) and Robert Nixon (appointed to heretofore vacant position of Deputy Premier). Sean Conway and Ian Scott would also see their roles change (see below).
There were several instances of ministerial portfolio reorganisation:
Thus the number of portfolios increased to 30, as did the number of cabinet members. With two ministers without portfolio (newly appointed cabinet ministers Mavis Wilson and Remo Mancini), this meant only two cabinet members helmed two portfolios: Premier Peterson himself, and Robert Nixon.
The number of women in the ministry swelled to six, including Elinor Caplan who returned to the ministry to as Minister of Health. Alas, the position of Minister Responsible for Women's Issues was assigned again to a man, as Greg Sorbara took the responsibility from Ian Scott.
The Peterson ministry shrank significantly, as nine cabinet members were dismissed, most notably Alvin Curling, Ed Fulton, and Vincent Kerrio. Only six newly appointed cabinet ministers filled the vacancies, most notably future contender for the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1992, Charles Beer (appointed Minister of Community and Social Services), and Steve Offer (appointed Solicitor General).
Among established cabinet ministers, Sean Conway made the biggest move, taking the helm at three portfolios (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Skills Development, and Ministry of Colleges and Universities), even as he surrendered the position of House Leader to Chris Ward. Meanwhile, Lyn McLeod took over both Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Natural Resources, and Murray Elston continued as Chair of Management Board of Cabinet as well as Minister of Financial Institutions (the latter position he actually had already taken over August 16, 1988).
There was one instance of a ministerial portfolio reorganisation:
The number of women would fall to five, but at last the Minister Responsible for Women's Issues would for the first time actually be a woman, as the responsibility was assigned to established cabinet minister Mavis Wilson.
Over the course of 1990, Christine Hart and René Fontaine would resign from the ministry; their positions would not be filled by newly appointed cabinet ministers.
Thus, as the election of 1990 approached, the Peterson ministry contained 25 cabinet members in 29 portfolios. There were three ministers without portfolio; Sean Conway helmed three (see above), and Premier Peterson, Lyn McLeod, Hugh O'Neil and Murray Elston each helmed two, and one is fully vacant.
Of the 24 cabinet members who contested the 1990 election (John Sweeney opted not to run again) 16 won, including most of the high-profile cabinet ministers (such as Sean Conway, Murray Elston, Elinor Caplan, Ian Scott, Lyn McLeod, Jim Bradley, and Robert Nixon); in fact, of the eight that lost, the only notable person was Premier Peterson himself, who lost his London Centre riding to NDP challenger Marion Boyd by nearly 25 points.
Alas, the Liberal Party lost 59 seats, falling to 36, surrendering the majority to the NDP, and the Peterson ministry was forced to resign.
There were 38 people who served in the Peterson ministry.
Eight were women.
At no point was the ministry all-white, as before Alvin Curling (of Jamaican heritage and birth) left, Bob Wong (of Chinese heritage) joined.
Position | Minister | Tenure | |
---|---|---|---|
Start | End | ||
Premier of Ontario | David Peterson [2] | June 26, 1985 | October 1, 1990 |
Deputy Premier of Ontario | vacant | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Robert Nixon [3] | September 29, 1987 | October 1, 1990 | |
House Leader | Robert Nixon | June 26, 1985 | July 31, 1987 |
Sean Conway [4] | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Chris Ward [5] | August 2, 1989 | August 2, 1990 | |
Portfolio | Minister | Tenure | |
---|---|---|---|
Start | End | ||
Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet | Elinor Caplan [6] | June 26, 1985 | June 16, 1986 |
Robert Nixon (Interim) | June 16, 1986 | September 29, 1987 | |
Murray Elston [7] | September 29, 1987 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Agriculture and Food | Jack Riddell [8] | June 26, 1985 | August 2, 1989 |
David Ramsay [9] | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Attorney General | Ian Scott [10] | June 26, 1985 | October 1, 1990 |
Minister of Citizenship [b] | Lily Oddie Munro [11] | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Gerry Phillips [12] | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Bob Wong [13] | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Colleges and Universities | Greg Sorbara [14] | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Lyn McLeod [15] | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Sean Conway | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Community and Social Services | John Sweeney [16] | June 26, 1985 | August 2, 1989 |
Charles Beer [17] | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations | Monte Kwinter [18] | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Bill Wrye [19] | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Greg Sorbara | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Correctional Services [c] | David Ramsay | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 |
Richard Patten [20] | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Culture and Communication [d] | Lily Oddie Munro | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 |
Christine Hart [21] | August 2, 1989 | May 30, 1990 | |
Hugh O'Neil [22] | June 5, 1990 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Education | Sean Conway | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Chris Ward | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Sean Conway | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Energy | Vincent Kerrio [23] | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Bob Wong | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Lyn McLeod | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of the Environment | Jim Bradley [24] | June 26, 1985 | October 1, 1990 |
Treasurer and Minister of Economics | Robert Nixon | June 26, 1985 | October 1, 1990 |
C | Monte Kwinter | April 1, 1986 | September 29, 1987 |
Robert Nixon | September 29, 1987 | August 16, 1988 | |
Murray Elston | August 16, 1988 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Government Services | Elinor Caplan | June 26, 1985 | June 16, 1986 |
Sean Conway | June 17, 1986 | September 9, 1987 | |
Richard Patten | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Chris Ward | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Health | Murray Elston | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Elinor Caplan | September 29, 1987 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs | David Peterson | June 26, 1985 | October 1, 1990 |
Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology | Hugh O'Neil | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Monte Kwinter | September 29, 1987 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Labour | Bill Wrye | June 26, 1985 | September 9, 1987 |
Greg Sorbara | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Gerry Phillips | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Municipal Affairs | Bernard Grandmaître [25] | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
John Eakins [26] | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
merged into Municipal Affairs and Housing | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Housing | Alvin Curling [27] | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Chaviva Hošek [28] | September 29, 1987 | October 1, 1989 | |
merged into Municipal Affairs and Housing | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing [e] | John Sweeney | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 |
Minister of Natural Resources | Vincent Kerrio | June 26, 1985 | August 2, 1989 |
Lyn McLeod | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Northern Development and Mines [f] [g] | René Fontaine [29] | June 26, 1985 | June 26, 1986 |
David Peterson | June 26, 1986 | September 29, 1987 | |
Minister of Northern Development [h] | René Fontaine | September 29, 1987 | August 8, 1990 |
Minister of Mines [i] | Sean Conway | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 |
Hugh O'Neil | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs | Bernard Grandmaître | June 26, 1985 | August 2, 1989 |
Charles Beer [17] | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister Responsible for Native Affairs | Ian Scott | June 26, 1985 | October 1, 1990 |
Minister Responsible for Race Relations and Ontario Human Rights Commission | Gerry Phillips | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 |
Bob Wong | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister Responsible for Women's Issues | Ian Scott | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Greg Sorbara | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Mavis Wilson [30] | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister Responsible for Anti-Drug Strategy | Ken Black [31] | August 2, 1989 | June 28, 1990 |
Minister of Revenue | Robert Nixon | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Bernard Grandmaître | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Remo Mancini [32] | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Ministry of Skills Development | Greg Sorbara | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Alvin Curling | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Sean Conway | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Minister of Tourism and Recreation [j] | John Eakins | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Hugh O'Neil | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Ken Black | August 2, 1989 | June 28, 1990 | |
Minister of Transportation [k] | Ed Fulton [33] | June 26, 1985 | August 2, 1989 |
Bill Wrye | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Ministers Without Portfolio | Tony Ruprecht [34] | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 |
Ron Van Horne [35] | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 | |
Remo Mancini | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | |
Mavis Wilson | September 29, 1987 | October 1, 1990 | |
Shirley Collins [36] | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Gilles Morin [37] | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services [l] | Ken Keyes [38] | June 26, 1985 | December 3, 1986 |
Ian Scott (interim) | December 3, 1986 | January 7, 1987 | |
Ken Keyes | January 7, 1987 | September 29, 1987 | |
Solicitor General | Joan Smith [39] | September 29, 1987 | June 6, 1989 |
Ian Scott (interim) | June 6, 1989 | August 2, 1989 | |
Steven Offer [40] | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | |
Elinor Caplan is a businesswoman and former politician in Ontario, Canada. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1997, and was a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada from 1997 to 2004. A Liberal, she served as a cabinet minister in the provincial government of David Peterson and the federal government of Jean Chrétien.
Gregory Samuel Sorbara is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1995, and again from 2001 to 2012 who represented ridings north of Toronto in the city of Vaughan. Sorbara served as a cabinet minister in the governments of David Peterson and Dalton McGuinty.
The Executive Council of Ontario, often informally referred to as the Cabinet of Ontario, is the cabinet of the Canadian province of Ontario. It comprises ministers of the provincial Crown, who are selected by the premier of Ontario and appointed by the lieutenant governor. The activities of the Government of Ontario are directed by the Executive Council.
James J. Bradley is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a long-serving Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, sitting as an MPP from 1977 until 2018. He represented the riding of St. Catharines and served in the provincial cabinets of David Peterson, Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne. He was elected as a regional councillor in the St. Catharines municipal election of 2018. He is currently the Chair of the Regional Municipality of Niagara.
David James Ramsay was a Canadian politician in Ontario. He was elected as a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1985 who crossed the floor a year later to join the Liberal party. He represented the northern Ontario riding of Timiskaming from 1985 to 1999 and the redistributed riding of Timiskaming—Cochrane from 1999 to 2011. He served as a cabinet minister in the governments of David Peterson and Dalton McGuinty.
Murray John Elston is a former politician in Ontario Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1994 who represented the central Ontario ridings of Huron—Bruce and Bruce. He was a senior cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson. He briefly served as interim leader of the Liberal Party from July to November 1991.
Robert Stanley Kemp Welch was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1963 to 1985 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of John Robarts, Bill Davis and Frank Miller.
David Richard Caplan was a Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who represented the ridings of Oriole and Don Valley East from 1997 to 2011 and a cabinet minister in the government of Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty from 2003 to 2009.
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Sean Conway is a former provincial politician in Ontario, Canada and a university professor. He served for 28 years as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 2003 and was a high-profile cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson.
Jacques Noe René Fontaine was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1990, and was a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson.
Vincent George Kerrio was a businessperson and politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1975 to 1990, and was a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson. He was the first Italian-Canadian to serve as a cabinet minister in Ontario.
Milton Edward Charles "Bud" Gregory was a Canadian politician in Ontario. He served as a Progressive Conservative member in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario who represented the riding of Mississauga East from 1975 to 1987. He served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Bill Davis and Frank Miller.
John Reesor Williams is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Progressive Conservative member in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1985, and was briefly a cabinet minister in the government of Frank Miller.
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