Author / George Hutchison

George Hutchison, a Toronto native and multiple-award winning journalist and author with The London Free Press, joined David Peterson soon after Peterson’s election as leader of the Ontario Liberal Party in 1982. He served as press secretary and director of communications in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and Premier’s Office through the 1985 and 1987 general elections, was director of public affairs at Ontario House in London, England from 1988 to 1992, and completed his career in the Ontario civil service as director of communications in the ministries of Industry, Trade and Tourism, and Natural Resources. He is a great-grandfather, living with his wife in his adopted hometown of London in Western Ontario. He continues to write and struggle at golf.
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  • The 1990 question – Why call an election before its time?

    The early election call, only three years into a huge majority mandate, led to his Liberal Party’s devastating defeat at the polls. It lost 59 of the 95 seats held at dissolution…

  • Beer and wine finally in corner stores – not so fast!

    Complications were limitless. Despite broad public support at the polls, the issue fired up fierce opposition from political rivals, commercial players and public interest groups. Another obstacle facing the concept was the…

  • The Peterson policy agenda

    Implementing an activist and far-reaching agenda between 1985 to 1990 transformed Ontario politics and policies preparing the province for the 21st century   In June 1985, the Liberal Party under David Peterson…

  • Opening the doors: Shining a light on how Ontario is governed

    A symbolic swearing-in on the Queen’s Park lawn was the metaphor for a more open government   The swearing in of the Liberal cabinet June 26, 1985 was the first visual demonstration…