Category / 1985 / Governing / Political environment
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Advice to David Peterson on becoming Liberal Leader – February 21, 1982
The memo given to David Peterson on the things he needed to do in the weeks after becoming Liberal leader and Leader of the Official Opposition in the Ontario Legislature.
June 8, 2026 -
The business of government is the public’s business
The Ford government’s announcement on the Friday afternoon before the March Break that it intends to introduce legislation which will exclude the records of the premier, cabinet ministers, parliamentary assistants and their…
May 5, 2026 -
Reflection on David Peterson’s leadership
“Surprise happens so often,” Paul Wolfowitz, former US Deputy Secretary of Defense once said, “that it’s surprising we’re still surprised by it.” The unexpected is the nature of the political beast.…
March 20, 2026 -
Bernard Grandmaitre – June 24, 1933 – October 28, 2025
Bernard Grandmaitre died on October 28, 2025 at the age of 92. Elected in a by-election in Ottawa East on December 13, 1984, and appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister…
December 24, 2025 -
The fight for democracy – Ali Velshi and his father Murad running for the Peterson Liberals
We are posting a wonderful testament Ali Velshi delivered on MSNBC last month to his father, Murad, and for democracy. As many will remember Murad served with distinction as a Liberal MPP…
December 21, 2025 -
Sean Conway on Separate School education in Ontario
Sean Conway served as Minister of Education in the first Peterson government (1985-87), given the task of extending public funding beyond grade 10 to the end of grade 13 to…
December 11, 2025 -
Polling during the Peterson years – When popularity is not enough
It must be a nice feeling to be Premier of Ontario with the opinion polls reporting that your party enjoys the support of almost 50 percent of the population –…
November 5, 2025 -
How the Liberals triumphed over the PCs in 1985
Click on the image below to watch Steve Paikin’s interview with David Peterson, Helen Burstyn and Hershell Ezrin.
June 18, 2025 -
Preparing for the 1985 provincial election
In October 1984, Ontario’s political trajectory took an unforeseen turn. Widely expected to call an election on Thanksgiving Monday, Premier William Davis instead announced his resignation, setting off a chain of events…
June 15, 2025 -
It’s the votes not the seats that mattered
On May 2, although the Liberals had led in seat count for some of the evening, the final result was a Progressive Conservative minority government. The party took 52 seats, a drop…
June 13, 2025
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Recent Posts
- Summary of reports from the Ontario Premier’s Councils 1987-1995 (Part Two)
- Advice to David Peterson on becoming Liberal Leader – February 21, 1982
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