Davis ministry

17th ministry of Ontario

Date formedMarch 1, 1971(1971-03-01)

Date dissolvedFebruary 8, 1985(1985-02-08)

People and organisations

MonarchElizabeth II

Lieutenant GovernorWilliam Ross Macdonald (1971-1974) Pauline Mills McGibbon (1974-1980) John Black Aird (1980-1985)

PremierBill Davis

Deputy Premierposition created Bob Welch (1977-1985)

Member partyPC Party

Status in legislatureMajority (1971-1975; 1981-1985) Minority (1975-1981)

Opposition partyLiberal, Ontario New Democratic Party

Opposition leaderRobert Nixon (Liberal, 1971-1975) Stephen Lewis (NDP, 1975-1977) Stuart Lyon Smith (Liberal, 1977-1981) Robert Nixon (Liberal, 1982) David Peterson (Liberal, 1982-1985)

History

Incoming formation1971 PC leadership convention

Outgoing formationresignation

Elections1971, 1975, 1977, 1981

Legislature term28th Parliament of Ontario 29th Parliament of Ontario 30th Parliament of Ontario 31st Parliament of Ontario 32nd Parliament of Ontario

PredecessorRobarts ministry

SuccessorMiller ministry

The Davis ministry was the combined cabinet (formally the Executive Council of Ontario) that governed Ontario from March 1, 1971, to February 8, 1985. It was the longest-lived ministry of Ontario in the 20th century.

It was led by the 18th Premier of Ontario, Bill Davis. The ministry was made up of members of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, which commanded at first a majority, and then a minority, before returning at last to majority status in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The ministry replaced the Robarts ministry following the resignation of Premier John Robarts and the 1971 PC leadership convention. The Davis ministry governed through the last few months of the 28th Parliament of Ontario, through the entirety of the 29th, 30th, and 31st Parliaments of Ontario, and most of the 32nd Parliament of Ontario.

Davis resigned as Premier of Ontario in 1985 and was succeeded as Premier of Ontario by David Peterson.

List of ministers

Davis Ministry by Leadership Position
Position	Minister	Tenure
Start	End
Premier of Ontario	Bill Davis	March 1, 1971	February 8, 1985
Deputy Premier of Ontario	Bob Welch position created	September 21, 1977	February 8, 1985
House Leader	Thomas Leonard Wells	December 23, 1983	February 8, 1985
Chief Whip	Bud Gregory	April 10, 1981	July 6, 1983
Robert G. Eaton	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985

Davis ministry by portfolio
Portfolio	Minister	Tenure
Start	End
Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet	Darcy McKeough	March 1, 1971	April 7, 1972
Charles MacNaughton	February 2, 1972	September 28, 1972
Eric Winkler	September 28, 1972	October 7, 1975
James Auld	October 7, 1975	August 18, 1978
George McCague	August 18, 1978	February 8, 1985
Minister of Agriculture and Food	William Atcheson Stewart	March 1, 1971	October 7, 1975
Bill Newman	October 7, 1975	August 30, 1979
Lorne Henderson	August 30, 1979	February 13, 1982
Dennis Timbrell	February 13, 1982	February 8, 1985
Attorney General	Allan Lawrence	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
Dalton Bales	February 2, 1972	February 26, 1974
Bob Welch	February 26, 1974	January 14, 1975
John Clement	January 14, 1975	October 7, 1975
Roy McMurtry	October 7, 1975	February 8, 1985
Minister of Citizenship and Culture	Bob Welch	January 14, 1975	August 18, 1978
Reuben Baetz	August 18, 1978	February 13, 1982
Bruce McCaffrey	February 13, 1982	July 6, 1983
Susan Fish	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Colleges and Universities	John White	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
George Kerr	February 2, 1972	September 28, 1972
Jack McNie	September 28, 1972	February 26, 1974
James Auld	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
Harry Parrott	October 7, 1975	August 18, 1978
Bette Stephenson	August 18, 1978	February 8, 1985
Minister of Community and Social Services	Thomas Leonard Wells	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
René Brunelle	February 2, 1972	October 7, 1975
James A. Taylor	October 7, 1975	February 3, 1977
Keith Norton	February 3, 1977	April 10, 1981
Frank Drea	April 10, 1981	September 29, 1983
Bruce McCaffrey interim	September 29, 1983	November 21, 1983
Frank Drea	November 21, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations	Arthur Wishart	March 1, 1971	December 8, 1971
Gordon Carton	December 8, 1971	February 2, 1972
Eric Winkler	February 2, 1972	September 28, 1972
John Clement	September 28, 1972	June 18, 1975
Sid Handleman	June 18, 1975	September 21, 1977
Larry Grossman	September 21, 1977	October 18, 1978
Frank Drea	October 18, 1978	April 10, 1981
Gordon Walker	April 10, 1981	February 13, 1982
Robert C. Mitchell?	April 30, 1982	September 12, 1983
Robert Elgie	February 13, 1982	February 8, 1985
Minister of Correctional Services	Syl Apps	March 1, 1971	February 26, 1974
Richard Potter	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
John Smith	October 7, 1975	February 3, 1977
Arthur Meen	February 3, 1977	June 23, 1977
John MacBeth interim	June 23, 1977	September 21, 1977
Frank Drea	September 21, 1977	October 18, 1978
Gordon Walker	October 18, 1978	April 10, 1981
Nick Leluk	April 10, 1981	February 8, 1985
Minister of Education	Bob Welch	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
Thomas Wells	February 2, 1972	August 18, 1978
Bette Stephenson	August 18, 1978	February 8, 1985
Minister of Energy	George Kerr	March 1, 1971	July 23, 1971
Did not exist	July 23, 1971	July 4, 1973
Darcy McKeough	July 4, 1973	June 18, 1975
Dennis Timbrell	June 18, 1975	February 3, 1977
James A. Taylor	February 3, 1977	January 21, 1978
Reuben Baetz	January 21, 1978	August 18, 1978
James Auld	August 18, 1978	August 30, 1979
Bob Welch	August 30, 1979	July 6, 1983
Philip Andrewes	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of the Environment	George Kerr	July 23, 1971	February 2, 1972
James Auld	February 2, 1972	February 26, 1974
Bill Newman	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
George Kerr	October 7, 1975	January 21, 1978
George McCague	January 21, 1978	August 18, 1978
Harry Craig Parrott	August 18, 1978	April 10, 1981
Keith Norton	April 10, 1981	July 6, 1983
Andy Brandt	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Treasurer and Minister of Economics	Darcy McKeough	March 1, 1971	September 7, 1972
Charles MacNaughton	September 7, 1972	January 15, 1973
John White	January 15, 1973	June 18, 1975
Darcy McKeough	June 18, 1975	August 18, 1978
Frank Miller	August 18, 1978	July 6, 1983
Larry Grossman	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Government Services	James Auld	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
James W. Snow	February 2, 1972	October 7, 1975
Margaret Scrivener	October 7, 1975	February 3, 1977
John Smith	February 3, 1977	June 23, 1977
James Auld	June 23, 1977	September 21, 1977
George McCague	September 21, 1977	January 21, 1978
Lorne Henderson	January 21, 1978	August 30, 1979
Douglas Wiseman	August 30, 1979	July 6, 1983
George Ashe	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Health	Bert Lawrence	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
Richard Potter	February 2, 1972	February 26, 1974
Frank Miller	February 26, 1974	February 3, 1977
Dennis Timbrell	February 3, 1977	February 13, 1982
Larry Grossman	February 13, 1982	July 6, 1983
Keith Norton	July 6, 1983	October 11, 1983
Thomas Leonard Wells interim	October 11, 1983	December 5, 1983
Keith Norton	December 5, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs	merged with Treasurer	1972	1978
Thomas Leonard Wells	August 18, 1978	February 8, 1985
Minister of Industry and Trade Development	Allan Grossman	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
John White	February 2, 1972	January 15, 1973
Claude Bennett	January 15, 1973	January 21, 1978
John Rhodes	January 21, 1978	September 25, 1978
vacant	September 25, 1978	October 18, 1978
Larry Grossman	October 18, 1978	February 13, 1982
Gordon Walker	February 13, 1982	July 6, 1983
Frank Miller	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Labour	Gordon Carton	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
Fernand Guindon	February 2, 1972	May 31, 1974
John MacBeth	May 31, 1974	October 7, 1975
Bette Stephenson	October 7, 1975	August 18, 1978
Robert Elgie	August 18, 1978	February 13, 1982
Russ Ramsay	February 13, 1982	February 8, 1985
Minister of Municipal Affairs	Dalton Bales	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
Darcy McKeough	February 2, 1972	April 7, 1972
merged with Intergovermental Affairs	April 7, 1972	July 3, 1981
merged with Municipal Affairs and Housing	July 3, 1981	February 8, 1985
Minister of Housing	Bob Welch	November 7, 1973	February 26, 1974
Sid Handleman	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1974
Donald Irvine	October 7, 1974	October 7, 1975
John Rhodes	October 7, 1975	January 21, 1978
Claude Bennett	January 21, 1978	July 3, 1981
merged with Municipal Affairs and Housing	July 3, 1981	February 8, 1985
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing	Claude Bennett	July 3, 1981	February 8, 1985
Minister of Natural Resources	René Brunelle	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
Leo Bernier	February 2, 1972	February 3, 1977
Frank Miller	February 3, 1977	August 18, 1978
James Auld	August 18, 1978	April 10, 1981
Alan Pope	April 10, 1981	February 8, 1985
Minister of Northern Affairs	Leo Bernier	March 1, 1971	April 7, 1972
merged with Natural Resources?	1972	1977
Leo Bernier	February 3, 1977	February 8, 1985
Minister Responsible for Women's Issues	Bob Welch	May 17, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Revenue	Eric Alfred Winkler	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
Allan Grossman	February 2, 1972	February 26, 1974
Arthur Meen	February 26, 1974	February 3, 1977
Margaret Scrivener	February 3, 1977	January 21, 1978
Lorne Maeck	January 21, 1978	April 10, 1981
George Ashe	April 10, 1981	July 6, 1983
Bud Gregory	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Tourism and Recreation	Fernand Guindon	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
John White	February 2, 1972	April 7, 1972
merged with Industry and Tourism	April 7, 1972	February 13, 1982
Reuben Baetz	February 13, 1982	February 8, 1985
Minister of Transportation and Communications	Charles MacNaughton	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
Gordon Carton	February 2, 1972	February 26, 1974
John Rhodes	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
James W. Snow	October 7, 1975	February 8, 1985
Ministers Without Portfolios	Richard Potter	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
James W. Snow	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
Claude Bennett	September 28, 1972	January 15, 1973
Margaret Birch	September 28, 1972	February 26, 1974)
Jack McNie	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
Donald Irvine	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1974
Sid Handleman	October 7, 1974	June 18, 1975
Richard B. Beckett	June 18, 1975	October 7, 1975
Lorne Henderson	October 7, 1975	January 21, 1978
René Brunelle	October 7, 1975	February 3, 1977
Douglas Wiseman	January 21, 1978	August 30, 1979
Alan Pope	August 30, 1979	April 10, 1981
Bud Gregory	August 29, 1979	July 6, 1983
Norm Sterling	April 10, 1981	February 13, 1982
Bruce McCaffrey	April 10, 1981	February 13, 1982
Gordon Dean	July 6, 1983	December 23, 1983
Robert G. Eaton	February 13, 1982	February 5, 1985
Provincial Secretary and Ministry of Citizenship	John Yaremko	March 1, 1971	April 7, 1972
Provincial Secretary for Justice	Allan Lawrence	January 5, 1972	September 28, 1972
George Kerr	September 28, 1972	February 26, 1974
Bob Welch	February 26, 1974	June 18, 1975
John Clement	June 18, 1975	October 7, 1975
John MacBeth	October 7, 1975	January 21, 1978
George Kerr	January 21, 1978	August 18, 1978
Bob Welch	August 18, 1978	August 30, 1979
Gordon Walker	August 30, 1979	February 13, 1982
Norman Sterling	February 13, 1982	December 23, 1983
Gordon Walker	December 23, 1983	February 8, 1985
Provincial Secretary for Resource Development	Bert Lawrence	January 5, 1972	February 26, 1974
Allan Grossman	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
Donald Irvine	October 7, 1975	February 3, 1977
René Brunelle	February 3, 1977	April 10, 1981
Russ Ramsay	April 10, 1981	February 13, 1982
Lorne Henderson	February 13, 1982	July 6, 1983
Norm Sterling	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Provincial Secretary for Social Development	Bob Welch	January 5, 1972	February 26, 1974
Margaret Birch	February 26, 1974	July 6, 1983
Bruce McCaffrey	July 6, 1983	December 23, 1983
Gordon Dean	December 23, 1983	February 8, 1985
Solicitor General	John Yaremko	April 7, 1972	February 26, 1974
George Kerr	February 26, 1974	June 18, 1975
John Clement	June 18, 1975	October 7, 1975
John MacBeth	October 7, 1975	January 21, 1978
George Kerr	January 21, 1978	September 11, 1978
Roy McMurtry	September 11, 1978	February 13, 1982
George William Taylor	February 13, 1982	June 26, 1985

Davis ministry

List of ministers

Notes