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Rae ministry

21th ministry of Ontario
Premier Bob Rae
Date formedOctober 1, 1990 (1990-10-01)
Date dissolvedJune 25, 1995 (1995-06-25)
People and organisations
Monarch
Lieutenant Governor
PremierBob Rae
Deputy Premier
Member partyNDP
Status in legislature
Opposition partyLiberal
Opposition leader
History
Election2003
Legislature term
Incoming formation1990 Ontario general election
Outgoing formation1995 Ontario general election
PredecessorPeterson ministry
SuccessorHarris ministry

The Rae ministry was the combined cabinet (formally the Executive Council of Ontario) that governed Ontario from October 1, 1990, to June 26, 1995. It was led by the 21st Premier of Ontario, Bob Rae. The ministry was made up of members of the Ontario New Democratic Party, which commanded a majority in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The ministry replaced the Peterson ministry following the 1990 Ontario general election. The ministry governed through all of the 35th Parliament of Ontario.

After the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario secured a majority in the 1995 Ontario general election, Rae resigned, and was succeeded as Premier of Ontario by Mike Harris.

History

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The Rae Ministry is formed

[edit]

Rae assembled a cabinet of 26 ministers, which was sworn in October 1, 1990. None of the newly appointed cabinet ministers had any ministerial experience; this was the second time such a situation occurred in recent history, as the Peterson ministry was also initially composed entirely of novices when it formed five years previously.

High-profile portfolios went to Marion Boyd (as Minister of Education), Evelyn Gigantes (as Minister of Health), Howard Hampton (as Attorney General), Frances Lankin (as Chair of Management Board of Cabinet and Minister of Government Services), Floyd Laughren (as Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister of Economics), Bob Mackenzie (as Minister of Labour), and Allan Pilkey (as Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology).

Eleven of the newly appointed cabinet ministers were women, several of whom were appointed to high-profile portfolios, such as the aforementioned Boyd, Gigantes, and Lankin, as well as Shelley Martel (appointed House Leader) and Shirley Coppen (as Chief Whip). Anne Swarbrick was appointed Minister Responsible for Women's Issues.

There were 28 portfolios at the beginning of the Rae ministry (including the Premiership). There was only one instance of ministerial portfolio reorganisation as Rae took over from Peterson:

Four cabinet members were appointed to multiple portfolios: Premier Rae himself (Premier and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs), Richard Allen (Ministry of Skills Development and Ministry of Colleges and Universities), Peter Kormos (Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations and "Minister of Financial Institutions"), and Frances Lankin (see above). Meanwhile, there were two ministers without portfolios: the aforementioned Shirley Coppen and Anne Swarbrick.

Early Changes

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The first big change to come to the Rae ministry was the departure of Peter Kormos as Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations and Minister of Financial Institutions on April 18, 1991, just past the six month mark of the mandate. Kormos had been tasked to implement a public auto insurance system, one of the promises of the recent election campaign, but partly because Kormos was such a disruptive presence in the ministry,[1][2] and partly because the party would soon abandon that promise, Kormos was dismissed from the ministry. He was succeeded at Consumer and Commercial Relations by Marilyn Churley and at Financial Institutions by Brian Charlton, both newly appointed cabinet ministers. Kormos would be a strong critic of his former ministry moving forward.

A month later, on April 18, 1991, Evelyn Gigantes became the second high-profile departure,[3] stepping down after violating the confidentiality of an Ontarian seeking treatment outside of Canada. She was replaced as Minister of Health by Frances Lankin, who surrendered her Ministry of Government Services portfolio to newly appointed cabinet minister Fred Wilson.

A small shuffle occurred July 31, 1991, involving six established cabinet members, most notably Ed Philip, who took over as Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology. There were also three newly appointed cabinet ministers, most notably future leadership candidate Tony Silipo, who was assigned to Chair of the Management Board); these three newcomers filled the vacancies left by three dismissed cabinet members.

There were two instances of ministerial portfolio reorganisation:

There were still 28 portfolios in the Rae Ministry at this point, but the membership had swelled to 28 cabinet members (the highest number of cabinet members in the duration of the ministry). Premier Rae (Premier and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs) and Richard Allen (Ministry of Skills Development and Ministry of Colleges and Universities) were now the only cabinet members to helm multiple portfolios at this point; Shirley Coppen and Anne Swarbrick remained the only ministers without portfolios.

Alas, in the months to come, more members were step down: Zanana Akande[4][5] resigned in a conflict of interest scandal October 10, 1991; newly appointed cabinet minister William Ferguson resigned February 12, 1992 from his post a Minister of Energy from her post as Minister of Community and Social Services amid allegations of having committed a sexual assault while working as a correctional officer at a girl's reform school in the 1970s[6] (he was later acquitted); and Peter North resigned on November 13, 1992 from his post as Minister of Tourism and Recreation amid allegations of having offered a job to a person he was hoping to start a relatiosnjhip with .[7] In each instance, the vacated portfolio was handed over to an established cabinet minister, sometimes involving a minor shuffling of cabinet; thus would Tony Silipo, Ed Philip, and Dave Cooke join Premier Rae in helming multiple portfolios.

1993: Cabinet Shuffle

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The February 3, 1993 cabinet shuffle saw no newly appointed cabinet ministers join the ministry, though David Christopherson had joined a few months earlier (September 23, 1992) as Minister of Correctional Services, in a move in which that portfolio had been briefly separated from the position of Solicitor General.

High-profile changes include Marion Boyd taking over as Minister of Justice and Attorney General (as the portfolio was renamed; Boyd was the first and last to hold the position who wasn't a lawyer) and Ruth Grier taking over as Minister of Health. Dave Cooke, Frances Lankin, and Brian Charlton also received important new assignments (see below).

There were several instances of ministerial portfolio reorganisation:

With the ministry slimmed to only 21 portfolios (including the Premiership), Premier Rae still kept the number of cabinet members at 25 because he carried five ministers without portfolios at this point in his ministry: Richard Allen, Shirley Coppen, Karen Haslam, Allan Pilkey, Fred Wilson; a few months after the shuffle, Mike Farnan returned to cabinet as minister without portfolio (June 17, 1993), replacing a departing Karen Haslam; he would be the last person to join the Rae ministry. Premier Rae held the Premiership as well as the position of Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

The Last Days of Rae

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By the time the 1995 Ontario general election was held June 8, 1995, there were only 22 cabinet members in the Rae ministry. Bob Mackenzie had left October 20, 1994 from the vital portfolio of Minister of Labour, a position he had held for the duration of the ministry; Evelyn Gigantes and Shelley Martel were also late departures. Each of their portfolios were taken over by an established cabinet minister without portfolios (Shirley Coppen, Mike Farnan, and Richard Allen; thus going into the election the last remaining ministers without portfolios were Allan Pilkey and Fred Wilson.

Only eleven cabinet members held their seats (including three of the contestants of the soon to be conducted 1996 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election, Tony Silipo, Frances Lankin, and the winner of that contest, Howard Hampton) and the NDP caucus shrank from 74 to 17.

Summary

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33 people served in the Rae ministry. Eighteen served for the duration, including Elmer Buchanan (as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs), Floyd Laughren (as Treasurer/Minister of Finance, and Elaine Ziemba (as Minister of Citizenship) who served in the same position for the duration, while Marilyn Churley (as Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations, Shelley Martel (as Minister of Northern Development (and later mines) and Bob Mackenzie (as Minister of Labour) both accumulated over four years in their positions.

Thirteen were women. Marion Boyd (as Minister of Education) and Attorney General) and Frances Lankin (as Minister of Health and Minister of Economic Development and Trade) were the standouts.

Zanana Akande was the only person of colour to serve; she was Minister of Community and Social Services from October 1, 1990 to October 10, 1991. She was the first woman of the African Diaspora to serve as a cabinet minister in Canada at any level, and the first such person elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. After she stepped down, the Rae ministry was all-white; June 25, 1995 was the last date that Ontario had an all-white ministry.

Everyone who served in the cabinet was culturally Christian; this was the last time Ontario had an all-Christian ministry. Bob Rae has strong family ties to the Jewish faith (including a Jewish wife, Arlene Perly Rae), and he is a member of Holy Blossom Temple, a Reform Jewish congregation in Toronto,[8] but he was raised Anglican and has never formally converted to Judaism.

The Rae ministry began with 26 cabinet members and ended with 22; it began with 27 portfolios and ended with 21. It is unusual for ministries to shrink in size in either respect.

List of ministers

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Rae Ministry by Leadership Position
Position Minister Tenure
Start End
Premier of Ontario Bob Rae[9] October 1, 1990 June 25, 1995
Deputy Premier of Ontario Floyd Laughren[10] October 1, 1990 June 25, 1995
House Leader Shelley Martel[11] October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
Dave Cooke[12] July 31, 1991 April 28, 1995
Chief Whip Shirley Coppen[13] October 1, 1990 February 3, 1993
Fred Wilson[14] February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Rae ministry by portfolio
Portfolio Minister Tenure
Start End
Chair of the
Management Board
of Cabinet
Frances Lankin[15] October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
Tony Silipo[16] July 31, 1991 September 23, 1992
Dave Cooke September 23, 1992 February 3, 1993
Brian Charlton[17] February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of Agriculture,
Food
and Rural Affairs
[a]
Elmer Buchanan[18] October 1, 1990 June 25, 1995
Attorney General[b] Howard Hampton[19] October 1, 1990 February 3, 1993
Marion Boyd[20] February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of Citizenship Elaine Ziemba[21] October 1, 1990 June 25, 1995
Ministry of Colleges
and Universities
Richard Allen[22] October 1, 1990 February 3, 1993
merged with
Education
and Training
February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of
Community
and Social Services
Zanana Akande[23] October 1, 1990 October 10, 1991
Marion Boyd October 15, 1991 February 3, 1993
Tony Silipo February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of Consumer
and Commercial Relations
Peter Kormos[24] October 1, 1990 March 18, 1991
Marilyn Churley[25] March 18, 1991 June 25, 1995
Minister of Culture
and Communication
Rosario Marchese[26] October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
Karen Haslam[27] July 31, 1991 February 3, 1993
merged with
Tourism and
Recreation
February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of Education[c] Marion Boyd October 1, 1990 October 15, 1991
Tony Silipo October 15, 1991 February 3, 1993
Dave Cooke February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of Energy Jenny Carter[28] October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
Will Ferguson[29] July 31, 1991 February 13, 1992
Brian Charlton February 13, 1992 February 3, 1993
merged with
Environment
February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of
the Environment
Ruth Grier[30] October 1, 1990 February 3, 1993
merged with
Energy
February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of
the Environment
and Energy
[d]
Bud Wildman[31] February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of Finance[e] Floyd Laughren October 1, 1990 June 25, 1995
Minister of
Financial
Institutions
Peter Kormos October 1, 1990 March 18, 1991
Brian Charlton March 18, 1991 February 3, 1993
merged with
Chair of
Management
Board
February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of
Government Services
Frances Lankin October 1, 1990 April 22, 1991
Fred Wilson April 22, 1991 February 3, 1993
merged with
Chair of
Management Board
February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of Health Evelyn Gigantes[32] October 1, 1990 April 18, 1991
Frances Lankin April 22, 1991 February 3, 1993
Ruth Grier February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of
Intergovernmental Affairs
Bob Rae October 1, 1990 June 25, 1995
Minister of Industry,
Trade
and Technology
[f]
Allan Pilkey[33] October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
Ed Philip[34] July 31, 1991 February 3, 1993
Frances Lankin February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of Labour Bob Mackenzie[35] October 1, 1990 October 20, 1994
Shirley Coppen October 20, 1994 June 25, 1995
Minister of
Municipal Affairs
and Housing
[g]
Dave Cooke October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
Minister of
Municipal Affairs
merged with
Housing
October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
Dave Cooke July 31, 1991 February 3, 1993
Ed Philip February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of Housing merged with
Municipal Affairs
October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
Evelyn Gigantes July 31, 1991 August 18, 1994
Richard Allen August 22, 1994 June 25, 1995
Minister of
Natural Resources
Bud Wildman October 1, 1990 February 3, 1993
Howard Hampton February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of
Northern Development
Shelley Martel October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
merged with
Mines
July 31, 1991 June 25, 1995
Minister of Mines Gilles Pouliot[36] October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
merged with
Northern
Development
July 31, 1991 June 25, 1995
Minister of
Northern Development
and Mines
[h]
Shelley Martel July 31, 1991 October 7, 1994
Gilles Pouliot October 7, 1994 June 25, 1995
Minister Responsible for
Disabled Persons
Elaine Ziemba October 1, 1990 June 25, 1995
Minister Responsible for
Francophone Affairs
Gilles Pouliot October 1, 1990 June 25, 1995
Minister Responsible for
Native Affairs
Bud Wildman October 1, 1990 February 3, 1993
Howard Hampton February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister Responsible for
Seniors
Elaine Ziemba October 1, 1990 June 25, 1995
Minister Responsible for
Women's Issues
Anne Swarbrick[37] October 1, 1990 September 11, 1991
Marion Boyd September 11, 1991 June 25, 1995
Minister of Revenue Shelley Wark-Martyn[38] October 1, 1990 February 3, 1993
merged with Finance February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Ministry of
Skills Development
Richard Allen October 1, 1990 February 3, 1993
merged with
Colleges and
Universities
February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of Tourism
and Recreation
[i]
Peter North[39] October 1, 1990 November 13, 1992
Ed Philip November 13, 1992 February 3, 1993
Anne Swarbrick February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Minister of
Transportation
Ed Philip October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
Gilles Pouliot July 31, 1991 October 21, 1994
Mike Farnan[40] October 21, 1994 June 25, 1995
Ministers
Without Portfolios
Shirley Coppen October 1, 1990 October 21, 1994
Anne Swarbrick October 1, 1990 September 11, 1991
Richard Allen February 3, 1993 August 18, 1994
Karen Haslam February 3, 1993 June 14, 1993
Allan Pilkey February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Fred Wilson February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995
Mike Farnan June 17, 1993 October 21, 1994
Solicitor General
and Minister of
Correctional Services
[j]
Mike Farnan October 1, 1990 July 31, 1991
Allan Pilkey July 31, 1991 September 23, 1992
Allan Pilkey
(only Solicitor General)
September 23, 1992 February 3, 1993
David Christopherson[41]
(only Correctional
Services)
September 23, 1992 February 3, 1993
David Christopherson February 3, 1993 June 25, 1995

Notes

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  1. ^ named "Ministry of Agriculture and Food" from October 1, 1990 to March 9, 1994.
  2. ^ named "Ministry of Justice and Attorney General" from February 3, 1993 to June 25, 1995.
  3. ^ named "Minister of Education and Training from February 3, 1993 to June 25, 1995.
  4. ^ created February 3, 1993 by merger of "Ministry of Energy" and "Ministry of Environment."
  5. ^ called "Treasurer and Minister of Economics" from October 1, 1990 to February 3, 1993.
  6. ^ renamed "Minister of Economic Development and Trade" from February 3, 1993 to June 25, 1995.
  7. ^ divided into the "Ministry of Municipal Affairs" and the "Ministry of Housing" July 31, 1991.
  8. ^ created July 31, 1991 in a merger of "Ministry Mines" and "Ministry of Northern Development"
  9. ^ named "Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Recreation" from February 3, 1993 to June 25, 1995.
  10. ^ briefly divided into "Solicitor General" and "Minister of Correctional Services" from September 23, 1992 to February 3, 1993.

References

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  1. ^ Rae, Bob (1996). From Protest to Power: Personal Reflections on a Life in Politics. Toronto: Penguin Books Canada. p. 134.
  2. ^ Rae, Bob (1996). From Protest to Power: Personal Reflections on a Life in Politics. Toronto: Penguin Books Canada. p. 218.
  3. ^ Egan, Kelly (April 20, 1991). "Slip of tongue underscores problems of privacy". Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa, Ontario. p. A2. Retrieved April 16, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Ferguson, Derek (April 18, 1991). "Rae denies bid to hide conflict changes". Toronto Star. p. A13.
  5. ^ Ferguson, Derek (October 11, 1991). "Racism blamed as Akande quits post". Toronto Star. pp. A1, A12.
  6. ^ Canadian annual review of politics and public affairs (1992) by David Leyton-Brown, 1998, University of Toronto Press, via Google Books (retrieved January 10, 2011)
  7. ^ Leyton-Brown, David (1999). Canadian annual review of politics and public affairs. University of Toronto Press. p. 147. ISBN 0-8020-4701-7.
  8. ^ Posner, Michael (June 2, 2012). "With departure of rabbi, Holy Blossom faces its own exodus". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2012.
  9. ^ "Bob Keith Rae | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. November 4, 1982. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Floyd Laughren | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. October 21, 1971. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "Shelley Martel | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 10, 1987. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  12. ^ "Dave Cooke | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. June 9, 1977. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  13. ^ "Shirley Coppen | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  14. ^ "Fred Wilson | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  15. ^ "Frances Lankin | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  16. ^ "Tony Silipo | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  17. ^ "Brian Albert Charlton | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. June 9, 1977. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  18. ^ "Elmer Buchanan | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "Howard Hampton | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 10, 1987. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "Marion Boyd | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "Elaine Ziemba | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  22. ^ "Richard Alexander Allen | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. June 17, 1982. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  23. ^ "Zanana L. Akande | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  24. ^ "Peter Kormos | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. November 3, 1988. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  25. ^ "Marilyn Churley | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  26. ^ "Rosario Marchese | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  27. ^ "Karen Haslam | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  28. ^ "Jenny Carter | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  29. ^ "William A. Ferguson | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  30. ^ "Ruth Anna Grier | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. May 2, 1985. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  31. ^ "Charles "Bud" Jackson Wildman | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 18, 1975.
  32. ^ "Evelyn Adelaide Gigantes | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990.
  33. ^ "Allan Pilkey | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990.
  34. ^ "Ed Thomas Philip | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 18, 1975.
  35. ^ "Bob Warren Mackenzie | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 18, 1975.
  36. ^ "Gilles Pouliot | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. May 2, 1985.
  37. ^ "Anne Swarbrick | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990.
  38. ^ "Shelley Wark-Martyn | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990.
  39. ^ "Peter John North | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990.
  40. ^ "Mike Liam Farnan | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 10, 1987.
  41. ^ "David Christopherson | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. September 6, 1990.