In October 1984, Premier Bill Davis announced his resignation, setting off a chain of events that would lead to David Peterson becoming Ontario’s 20th Premier.
Learn more about the path to the Peterson Years on our website:
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The 1980s saw dramatic political change in Ontario, with the rise of a new political juggernaut in the Peterson Liberals. The Peterson Years tells that story, in the words of those who were there.
Join us in looking back by visiting our website:
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In the 1986 Speech from the Throne, the Peterson Government announced the creation of a project to expand the use of new technologies to deliver distance education to remote communities. It would later be known as Contact North or Contact Nord.
In the 1980s, the Peterson Liberals established the Northern Development Fund, a $100 million fund dedicated to Northern communities. They also created the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, committing a further $30 million per year over 12 years to address high unemployment.
The Peterson Government created a targeted development fund for Northern Ontario, provided Northern residents with financial aid for medical travel, expanded the Contact North electronic distance education network, and increased banking services in the North to further expand opportunity.
Bill Wrye was first elected as the MPP for Windsor-Sandwich in 1981 after serving as a producer for CBC Television. He was appointed the Minister of Labour and later Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations.
Elected in 1987, Bob Wong became the first Canadian of Chinese descent elected as an MPP and appointed to Cabinet anywhere in Canada. He stated at the time, “I have always believed that diversity helps to build better governments, organizations, and a better country.”
Mavis Wilson served as a school trustee in Dufferin County before becoming the MPP for Dufferin-Peel in 1987. She was quickly appointed the Minister Responsible for Senior Citizens’ Affairs and later the Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues.
Chris Ward began his political career as a councillor and mayor. As an MPP, he was named Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health, the Attorney General, and the Minister of Education.
The Peterson Liberals recognized Ontario’s pluralistic character as the province’s best asset in an increasingly globalized economy. To support the province’s diverse workforce and compete in the global economy, they established the Premier’s Council Technology Fund and Centres of Excellence.
An important priority of the Peterson Liberals was to demonstrate sensitivity to Ontario’s pluralistic, multiracial, and multicultural character. The government pursued this by reforming race relations and modernizing policing in the province.
By the 1980s, Ontario was rapidly becoming more diverse. However, government policies, practices, and services were not keeping up. The Peterson Liberals modernized the Government of Ontario into one that aimed to serve all members of society in which all people could see themselves reflected.
Ron served as a teacher, principal, school superintendent, and Public Utilities Commissioner in London, Ontario before becoming the MPP for London North. As Minister Responsible for Senior Citizens’ Issues, Ron introduced the government’s white paper on seniors’ care.
John Sweeney was first elected as the MPP for Kitchener-Wilmot in 1975 and spent a decade as part of the Liberal Party opposition in the legislature. As Minister of Community and Social Services, John announced a ground-breaking review of social assistance programs in Ontario.
Greg Sorbara was first elected as an MPP in 1985 in the riding of York North. He served until 1995, then briefly left politics, returning in 2001. He was one of only a handful of MPPs to serve as a Cabinet Minister in both the Peterson and McGuinty Governments.
Joan Smith was first elected as the MPP for London South in 1985. She had previously served as an alderman on London City Council. She was appointed Chief Government Whip for the newly formed Liberal Government as well as Deputy Government House Leader. In 1987, she was appointed Solicitor General.
Ian Scott was first elected in 1985 after a career as a highly regarded advocate and courtroom lawyer. He would play a crucial role in the Peterson Government as Attorney General, Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues, and Minister Responsible for Race Relations.
To support Indigenous business and communities, the Peterson Government created an Indigenous economic development strategy for Ontario and introduced the Ontario Native Economic Support Program to help finance Indigenous community facilities.
Following the rejection of the Temagami’s Band land claim by the Ontario Court of Appeal, Scott made an offer of settlement to meet outstanding treaty entitlements and restore the role of the Band in natural resource management.
He also approved funding for a native legal services corporation for Nishnawbe-Aski Nation communities in Northern Ontario. In May 1990, the Sandy Lake and Attawapiskat First Nations each received pilot project funding to explore new community-based justice initiatives and programs.
The 1980s and early 1990s were an era of constitutional reform. One focus of that reform was advancing the negotiation of Indigenous self-government agreements. In 1989, Ian Scott introduced guidelines for negotiating self-government with Indigenous communities across Ontario.
In addition, Community and Social Services Minister John Sweeney recognized three Indigenous Children’s Aid Societies in Northern Ontario, which served one-third of all Indigenous children in bands across the province. #ThePetersonYears
Minister Ian Scott reached self-policing agreements with two First Nations, a self-governance agreement with the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation, and a forest stewardship agreement with the Teme-Augama Anishnabai people.
The Peterson government took key steps to support Indigenous communities in the province of Ontario in the 1980s, including appointing Ontario’s first Minister for Native Affairs and establishing Ontario’s first Native Affairs Directorate.
Tony Ruprecht ran for provincial politics and became the MPP for Parkdale, later switching to the riding of Davenport in 1999 after a riding redistribution. He was re-elected in 1985 and became the Minister Responsible for Disabled Persons and Multiculturalism.
Jack Riddell was a high school teacher, livestock auctioneer, and Assistant Manager of the Ontario Stockyards. He was elected as the MPP for Huron. He served in opposition until the Peterson Liberals formed government in 1985 and he was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Food.
David Ramsay was first elected as the MPP for Timiskaming in 1985 as a member of the NDP. In 1986, he crossed the floor to join the Liberal Caucus. He was handily re-elected and joined the Peterson Cabinet as Minister of Correctional Services. In 1989, he became Minister of Agriculture and Food.
Gerry Phillips was first elected in 1987 and was quickly named the Minister of Citizenship. He later served as a Commissioner of the Board of Internal Economy and the Minister of Labour in the Peterson Government.
Richard Patten was first elected in 1987 as part of the Peterson majority. He was immediately named the Minister of Government Services and later served as the Minister of Correctional Services and a Commissioner of the Board of Internal Economy.
The Peterson years and trailblazers like Ian Scott helped create a more inclusive culture in Ontario and other political firsts. Staffer George Smitherman went on to become the first openly gay MPP and Cabinet Minister and Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne became Canada’s first openly gay Premier.
