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Peterson ministry

Ministry of Ontario, Canada
Premier David Peterson in the legislature in 1986
Date formedJune 26, 1985 (1985-06-26)
Date dissolvedOctober 1, 1990 (1990-10-01)
People and organizations
MonarchElizabeth II
Lieutenant
Governor
PremierDavid Peterson
Deputy PremierRobert Nixon (1987-90)
Member partyLiberal
Status in legislature
Opposition partyPC Party (1985-87)
NDP (1987-90)
Opposition leader
History
Incoming formation1985 Ontario general election
Outgoing formation1990 Ontario general election
Elections1985, 1987
Legislature term
PredecessorMiller ministry
SuccessorRae ministry

The Peterson ministry was the cabinet (formally the Executive Council of Ontario) of the provincial government of 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 formation of this Liberal ministry ended forty-two consecutive years of Conservative rules in Ontario. replacing the Miller ministry following the 1985 Ontario general election, during which the Peterson led Liberals won the popular vote but four fewer seats than the incumbent Progressive Conservative Party. The Liberals were able secure the support of the third place New Democratic Party (NDP) by entering into an formal agreement to implement certain NDP policy priorities in exchange for confidence and supply backing for a fixed period of two years, during which the Liberals agreed not to trigger an election. The ministry renewed its governing mandate in the 1987 general election during which it secured a massive sixty-seat majority. The ministry was defeated in a shocking upset in the 1990 general election, and was replaced by the NDP Rae Ministry.

History

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The Peterson Ministry is formed

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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.

Elinor Caplan, 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:

Within a year, 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.

1987 Post-election Shuffle

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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.

There were several instances of ministerial portfolio reorganisation:

Thus the number of portfolios increased to 30, as did the number of cabinet members.

1989 Midterm Shuffle

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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.

Thus, as the election of 1990 approached, the Peterson ministry contained 25 cabinet members in 29 portfolios.

Election of 1990

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In anticipation of a general economic downturn in North America, Peterson sought to take advantage of polling numbers that were still favouring the Liberals in 1990 and called a snap election, less than three years into the massive majority mandated secured in 1987. At the time the election writ was dropped, the Liberals stood at 50% support in the polls,[2] and Peterson's personal approval popularity was even higher at 54% due to strong public approval of his role during the negotiation of the Meech Lake accord.[3] The move was however seen by many as arrogant and opportunistic, and public sentiment turned against the Peterson ministry quickly. A number of prominent members of the ministry, most notably Greg Sorbara and Jim Bradley, were reportedly strongly opposed to the early election call. Sean Conway, a member of Peterson's inner circle, would later acknowledge that most backbench MPPs also opposed the timing of the campaign.

Despite the Liberals retained closed to a third of the popular vote, the Liberal caucus was decimated with a fifty-nine seats net loss. The defeat was so far-reaching that the Premier was defeated in his own constituency by a 8,000-vote margin. In addition to the Premier, the election claimed seven incumbent members and six former members of the Peterson ministry as casualties.

Incumbent ministers

  • Richard Patten (Ottawa Centre), Minister of Correctional Services
  • Mavis Wilson (Dufferin—Peel), Minister Responsible for Women's Issues
  • Ken Black (Muskoka-Georgian Bay), Minister of Tourism and Recreation and Minister Responsible for Anti-Drug Strategy
  • Bob Wong (Fort York) Minister of Citizenship and Minister Responsible for Race Relations and the Ontario Human Rights Commission
  • Shirley Collins (Wentworth East), minister without portfolio
  • Chris Ward (Wentworth North), Minister of Government Services
  • Bill Wrye (Windsor—Sandwich), Minister of Transportation

Former ministers

Peterson announced his resignation as party leader on the night of the election. The Peterson ministry was formally dissolved three weeks later on October 1, 1990 when the successor Rae ministry took office.

Summary

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There were 38 people who served in the Peterson ministry.

Eight were women.

At no point was the ministry all-white.

List of ministers

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Portfolio Minister Tenure
Start End
Central administration
Premier and President of the Council David Peterson June 26, 1985 October 1, 1990
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Deputy Premier of Ontario (none designated before September 1987) Robert Nixon September 29, 1987 October 1, 1990
Treasurer and Minister of Economics June 26, 1985
Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet Elinor Caplan June 26, 1985 June 16, 1986
Robert Nixon a.i. June 16, 1986 September 29, 1987
Murray Elston September 29, 1987 October 1, 1990
Minister of Revenue Robert Nixon June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
Bernard Grandmaître September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Remo Mancini August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Judiciary and law enforcement
Attorney General Ian Scott June 26, 1985 October 1, 1990
Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services
(Divided to "Solicitor General" and "Correctional Services" after September 29, 1987) 		Ken Keyes June 26, 1985 December 3, 1986
Ian Scott a.i. December 3, 1986 January 7, 1987
Ken Keyes January 7, 1987 September 29, 1987
Minister of Correctional Services David Ramsay September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Richard Patten August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Solicitor General Joan Smith September 29, 1987 June 6, 1989
Ian Scott a.i. June 6, 1989 August 2, 1989
Steven Offer August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Education and human services
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 Colleges and Universities Greg Sorbara June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
Lyn McLeod September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Sean Conway August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Minister of Labour Bill Wrye June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
Greg Sorbara September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Gerry Phillips August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Minister 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 Community and Social Services John Sweeney June 26, 1985 August 2, 1989
Charles Beer 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
Resources and industries
Minister of Agriculture and Food Jack Riddell June 26, 1985 August 2, 1989
David Ramsay August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Minister of Energy Vincent Kerrio June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
Bob Wong September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Lyn McLeod 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 Affairs and Mines (to November 27, 1985)

Minister of Northern Development and Mines
(November 27, 1985 to September 29, 1987)
Minister of Northern Development (after September 29, 1987)

René Fontaine June 26, 1985 June 26, 1986
David Peterson a.i. June 26, 1986 September 29, 1987
René Fontaine September 29, 1987 August 8, 1990
David Ramsay August 20, 1990 October 1, 1990
Minister of Mines Sean Conway September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Hugh O'Neil August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Minister of Culture and Communication[a] Lily Oddie Munro September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Christine Hart August 2, 1989 May 30, 1990
Hugh O'Neil June 5, 1990 October 1, 1990
Minister of Financial Institutions 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 Industry, Trade and Technology Hugh O'Neil June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
Monte Kwinter September 29, 1987 October 1, 1990
Minister of Tourism and Recreation 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
Public assets and services
Minister of Citizenship and Culture Lily Oddie Munro June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
Minister of Citizenship Gerry Phillips September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Bob Wong August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations Monte Kwinter June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
Bill Wrye September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Greg Sorbara August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Minister of the Environment Jim Bradley June 26, 1985 October 1, 1990
Minister of Government Services Elinor Caplan June 26, 1985 June 16, 1986
Sean Conway June 16, 1986 September 29, 1987
Richard Patten September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Chris Ward August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Minister of Municipal Affairs
(merged into Municipal Affairs and Housing after August 2, 1989) 		Bernard Grandmaître June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
John Eakins September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Minister of Housing
(merged into Municipal Affairs and Housing after August 2, 1989) 		Alvin Curling June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
Chaviva Hošek September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing John Sweeney August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Minister of Transportation & Communication (to September 29, 1987)

Minister of Transportation (after September 29, 1987)

Ed Fulton June 26, 1985 August 2, 1989
Bill Wrye August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Ministers without portfolio and non-portfolio assignments
Minister Without Portfolio Tony Ruprecht June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
Ron Van Horne June 26, 1985 September 29, 1987
Remo Mancini September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Mavis Wilson September 29, 1987 October 1, 1990
Shirley Collins August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Gilles Morin August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
House Leader Robert Nixon June 26, 1985 July 31, 1987
Sean Conway September 29, 1987 August 2, 1989
Chris Ward August 2, 1989 August 2, 1990
Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs Bernard Grandmaître June 26, 1985 August 2, 1989
Charles Beer 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 August 2, 1989 October 1, 1990
Minister Responsible for Anti-Drug Strategy Ken Black August 2, 1989 June 28, 1990

Notes

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  1. ^ created September 29, 1987, from "Citizenship and Culture," with a new mandate in communications.

References

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  • Froman, Debra, ed. (1984). Legislators and Legislatures of Ontario: A Reference Guide. Vol. 4. Legislative Assembly of Ontario. p. 39-46.
  • "All Members". Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Citations

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  1. ^ "Elinor Caplan". jwa.org. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  2. ^ Mackie, Richard (July 14, 1990). "Buoyant Liberals gather in Toronto for election talks". The Globe and Mail. p. A5.
  3. ^ "Chretien's rating lowest in Quebec". Toronto Star. July 9, 1990. p. A10.
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