Bill Davis - Wikipedia 2024-03-12, 8:46 PM

Bill Davis
William Grenville Davis, PC, CC, OOnt, QC (July 30,
The Honourable
1929 – August 8, 2021) was a Canadian politician who
Bill Davis
served as the 18th premier of Ontario from 1971 to PC CC OOnt QC
1985. Behind Oliver Mowat, Davis was the second-
longest serving premier of Ontario.

Born in Toronto, Davis was a lawyer before being

elected as a Progressive Conservative member of
provincial Parliament for Peel in the 1959 provincial
election. He was a backbencher in the Conservative
caucus until 1962, when he was appointed minister of
education under John Robarts. During this period,
Davis created the community college system and the
educational television network now known as TVO.

In 1971, he succeeded Robarts as the premier of Ontario

and held the position until resigning in 1985. He led the
Progressive Conservatives to victory in four consecutive
elections, winning two majority governments and two Davis in 1979
minority governments. As premier, Davis was 18th Premier of Ontario
responsible for the cancellation of the Spadina
In office
Expressway, the funding of Catholic secondary schools
March 1, 1971 – February 8, 1985
through grade 12, the formation of Canada's first
Ministry of the Environment, and rent control, as well Monarch Elizabeth II
as playing a large role in the patriation of the Lieutenant William Ross Macdonald
Constitution of Canada. Governor Pauline Mills McGibbon
John Black Aird

Early life and education Preceded by John Robarts

Succeeded by Frank Miller
Davis was born on July 30, 1929, at Toronto General
Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, the son of Vera Mildred Executive Council of [show]
(née Hewetson) and Albert Grenville Davis.[1][2][3] His Ontario

father was a successful local lawyer.[4] Davis married Minister of University Affairs
twice, first to Helen McPhee (b. 1931, m. 1955, d. 1962), In office
May 14, 1964 – March 1, 1971

with whom he had four children (Neil, Nancy, Cathy, Premier John Robarts
Ian), before marrying Kathleen Mackay (m. 1964).[5] [6] Preceded by Riding established
They had one daughter, Meg, in 1965.[7] Succeeded by John White
Minister of Education
Davis was politically active from the age of 15.[7] Local
In office
Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament (MP)
October 25, 1962 – March 1, 1971
Gordon Graydon was a frequent guest at Davis's
parents' house, and Davis himself became the first Premier John Robarts
delegate younger than seventeen years to attend a Preceded by John Robarts
national Progressive Conservative convention in Succeeded by Bob Welch
Canada. He frequently campaigned for local Member of
Parliamentary [show]
Provincial Parliament (MPP) Thomas Laird Kennedy, constituencies
who briefly served as Premier of Ontario in 1949.[8]
Member of the
Ontario Provincial Parliament
Davis graduated from the University of Toronto with a for Brampton
BA in 1951.[9] He was a football player during his (Peel North; 1967–1975)
university years, and his teammates included Roy (Peel; 1959–1967)

McMurtry and Thomas Leonard Wells, both of whom In office

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McMurtry and Thomas Leonard Wells, both of whom

would later serve in his cabinet.[10] Davis received a June 11, 1959 – May 2, 1985
bachelor of laws from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1954 Preceded by Thomas Laird Kennedy
and was called to the bar of Ontario in 1955.[9] Succeeded by Bob Callahan

Personal details
Early political career Born William Grenville Davis
Davis was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of July 30, 1929
Ontario in the 1959 provincial election, for the southern Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ontario constituency of Peel. He was only 29 years Died August 8, 2021 (aged 92)
old.[11] Although Peel was an extremely safe Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Conservative seat for most of its history, Davis won by a Political party Progressive Conservative
narrow 1,203 votes. The election took place soon after
Spouses Helen MacPhee
the federal Progressive Conservative government of
(m. 1955; died 1962)
John Diefenbaker had cancelled the Avro Arrow
program.[12] Davis was given the honour of move the Kathleen MacKay (m. 1964)

motion to vote on the Speech from the Throne, which Children 5

while purely symbolic, allowed him to give a speech that Alma mater University College, Toronto
included two of his own planned projects: establishing (BA)
what would become the Forks of the Credit Provincial Osgoode Hall Law School
Park, and improving education.[13] Davis served for two (LLB)
years as a backbench supporter of Leslie Frost's
government. When Frost announced his retirement in 1961, Davis became the chief organizer of
Robert Macaulay's campaign to succeed him as premier and party leader. Macaulay was eliminated
on the next-to-last ballot, and, with Davis, delivered crucial support for John Robarts to defeat
Kelso Roberts on the final vote.[14]

Minister of Education
Davis was appointed to Robarts' cabinet as Minister of
Education on October 25, 1962, and was re-elected by a greatly
increased margin in the 1963 provincial election.[15] He was
given additional responsibilities as Ontario's Minister of
University Affairs on May 14, 1964, and held both portfolios
until 1971.[16] He significantly increased education funding
during the 1960s; spending increased by 454% between 1962
and 1971 and hundreds of public schools were opened. Davis
also oversaw a controversial overhaul and amalgamation of the
outdated school board systems in the province, reducing the
number of boards from 3,676 in 1962 to 192 by 1967.[17][18]

During his tenure as education minister, Davis established new

public universities, including Trent University and Brock
University, as well as the public community college system.
Canada's first educational research institute, the Ontario
Institute for Studies in Education, and the Ontario Educational Davis as Minister of Education, 1966

Communications Authority educational television network

(now TVO) were established while he was Minister, in 1965 and 1970, respectively.[17][19]

Davis's handling of the education portfolio, of which Robarts was a previous minister, made his
entry into the leadership contest to succeed Robarts unsurprising. Robarts himself fully expected
Davis to be his successor.[20] He was immediately dubbed the frontrunner when he announced his
bid on December 20, 1970.[21] In the early hours of February 13, 1971, Davis defeated rival
candidate Allan Lawrence by only 44 votes on the final ballot, after receiving support from third-
place candidate Darcy McKeough. Following the convention, Davis brought Lawrence's campaign
team, known as "the Spades", to become his principal advisors. The group later became known as
the Big Blue Machine, and remained a dominant campaign force in the Progressive Conservative
Party into the 1980s.[22]

Cabinet posts
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Cabinet posts

Premier of Ontario (1971–1985)

First majority (1971–1975)

Three months after taking office as premier, Davis announced
that his government would not continue to fund construction of
the Spadina Expressway into downtown Toronto—an initiative
that had been unpopular with many of the area's
residents.[23][24] The section of Allen Road south of Lawrence
Avenue was subsequently nicknamed the "Davis ditch".[25] In
July 1971, he created appointed the first Minister of the
Environment, George Kerr.[26] On August 31, Davis announced
the rejection of a proposal to grant full funding to Ontario's
Catholic high schools—which were only publicly funded up to
grade 10—stating that it "would fragment the present system
beyond recognition and repair".[27] The campaign to elect the
29th Legislative Assembly of Ontario began two weeks later on
September 13. The campaign featured the first televised leaders Davis in 1984
debate for a provincial election.[28] The PC's would gain 9 seats
in the election, held on October 21, 1971.[29]

Davis's first full term as premier was by most accounts his least successful, with public confidence
in his government weakened by a series of scandals.[30] There were allegations that the Fidinam
company had received special consideration for a Toronto development program in return for
donations to the Progressive Conservative Party.[31] In 1973, it was revealed that Davis's friend
Gerhard Moog had received a untendered C$44.4 million ($264 million in 2021 dollars) contract
for the construction of Ontario Hydro's new head office and related projects. Attorney General
Dalton Bales, Solicitor General John Yaremko and Treasurer McKeough were all accused of
conflicts-of-interest relating to government approval for developments on properties they owned.
The government was cleared of impropriety in all cases, but its popular support nonetheless
declined.[30] The Conservatives lost four key by-elections in 1973 and 1974.[32]

On the policy front, the Davis administration introduced regional governments for Durham,
Hamilton-Wentworth, Haldimand-Norfolk, and Waterloo but shelved further plans in response to
popular protests.[33] He faced a significant backlash from teachers in December 1973, following the
tabling of a bill to force an end to labour disruptions.[34] In the buildup to the 1975 provincial
election, Davis imposed a ninety-day freeze on energy prices, temporarily reduced the provincial
sales tax from 7% to 5%, and announced rent controls for the province.[35]

Minority governments (1975–1981)

The 1975 campaign was far more bitter than that of 1971, with Davis and Liberal leader Robert
Nixon repeatedly hurling personal insults at one another. Polls taken shortly before the election
had the Liberals in the lead. The Progressive Conservatives won only 51 seats out of 125, but were
able to remain in power with a minority government. The New Democratic Party (NDP) won 38
seats under the leadership of Stephen Lewis, while Nixon's Liberals finished third with 36. Soon
after the election, Davis hired Hugh Segal as his legislative secretary.[36] On January 1, 1976, Davis
enacted Canada's first mandatory seat belt law, following the death of the daughter of his close
friend and advisor, Eddie Goodman.[37]

Davis called a snap election in 1977, attempting to capitalise on the turmoil and surprise following
the 1976 Quebec general election that saw the Parti Quebecois gain a majority. He was again
returned with only a minority following the vote on June 9. The Progressive Conservatives
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increased their standing by 7 to 58 seats, against 34 for the Liberals and 33 for the NDP.[38] The
Conservatives remained the dominant party after the 1975 and 1977 elections due to the inability of
either the New Democrats and the Liberals to become the clear alternative. The Conservatives were
able to stay in power due to the competition between both opposition parties. As there was no
serious consideration of a Liberal-NDP alliance after both campaigns, Davis was able to avoid
defeat in the legislature by appealing to other parties for support on particular initiatives.[39] The
opposition parties had also undergone leadership changes; Nixon and Lewis, who had posed a
strong challenge to Davis, resigned after the 1975 and 1977 elections, respectively.[40] Nixon's
successor Stuart Lyon Smith proved unable to increase Liberal support, while new NDP leader
Michael Cassidy lacked the support of the party establishment.[39]

This period of the Davis government was one of expansion for the province's public health and
education systems, and Davis held a particular interest in ensuring that the province's community
colleges remained productive. The government also expanded the provisions of the Ontario
Human Rights Code,[41][42] and expanded bilingual services without introducing official
bilingualism to the province.[43]

Although he actively supported and campaigned for him in 1976, Davis had an awkward
relationship with federal Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark. He and Clark held differing
views over fuel prices, and the Davis government actively opposed Clark's 1979 austerity budget
which included a gas tax.[44]

Second majority (1981–1985)

The Progressive Conservatives were returned with a majority government in the 1981 provincial
election, with 8 of their 12 gained seats coming at the expense of the NDP.[45] Soon after the
election, Davis announced that John Tory (who became leader of the PCs 23 years later) had been

hired to succeed Hugh Segal as his principal secretary.[46] He also announced that Ontario would
purchase a 25% share in the energy corporation Suncor, despite opposition from within his own
caucus.[47]

Unlike most provincial premiers in Canada, Davis strongly supported Prime Minister Pierre
Trudeau's 1981 plans to patriate the constitution of Canada from the United Kingdom and add to it
the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.[48][49] Davis's role in the constitutional
negotiations of 1981 were pivotal in achieving a compromise that resulted in the passage of the
Constitution Act, 1982.[50][51]

Davis publicly announced his retirement on October 8, 1984, a few months before the 1985
election, with he and his government still well ahead in polls against David Peterson's Liberals and
Bob Rae's NDP.[52] One of his last major acts as premier was to reverse his 1971 decision against
the full funding of Catholic schools, and announce that such funding would be provided to the end
of Grade Thirteen. Although the policy was supported by all parties in the legislature, it was
unpopular with some in the Conservatives' traditional rural Protestant base, and many would stay
home in the upcoming election because of this issue.[53]

Davis was succeeded by Frank Miller, who was elected leader at a January 1985 leadership
convention over Larry Grossman (who was widely considered the successor to Davis and his Big
Blue Machine).[54] Although Miller was more conservative, the Progressive Conservatives still held
a significant lead over the opposition when the election was called. However, after a poor campaign
and controversy over Catholic school funding, in the 1985 provincial election they were reduced to
a minority government and lost the popular vote to the Liberal Party, and were soon defeated in a
motion of non-confidence by a Liberal–NDP accord, ending the party's 42-year period of rule over
the province.[55]

Post-political career
Davis was made a companion of the Order of Canada in 1986,[56] and received the Order of Ontario
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Davis was made a companion of the Order of Canada in 1986,[56] and received the Order of Ontario
in 1987.[57] Upon his retirement from politics, he served on numerous corporate boards, including
Seagram, Power Corporation, CIBC, Rogers Cable among others.[58] In 1985 and 1986, Davis was
the Canadian half of a joint task force with the United States (with Drew Lewis as his American
counterpart) appointed by Brian Mulroney and Ronald Reagan to solve the ongoing acid rain
issues affecting the Great Lakes. Their report was popularly referred to as the Acid Rain Treaty;
Davis was paid $1 for his work, proudly framing the bill at his cottage.[59]

Davis's reputation within the Ontario Progressive Conservatives was compromised during the
1990s by the party's shift to the right under Mike Harris. Many Conservatives parliamentarians
were openly dismissive of Davis-era spending policies, and frequently highlighted the differences

between Davis and Harris on policy issues. Davis remained a

supporter of the party, but seldom appeared at official
events.[60]

In 2003, Davis played a role in the successful negotiations to

merge the federal Progressive Conservatives with the Canadian
Alliance, and create the new Conservative Party of Canada. In
the 2006 federal campaign, he campaigned for Conservative
Leader Stephen Harper. Harper spoke favourably of Davis
during the campaign, and said that he learned much from
Davis's style of governing. The Conservatives were able to
defeat the Liberals to form the government.[61]

In the early 2000s, Davis returned to an honoured position

within the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. He was a
keynote speaker at the 2004 Progressive Conservative
leadership convention, and was singled out for praise in
speeches by outgoing party leader Ernie Eves and new leader
John Tory. Davis was also present for Tory's first session in the
Ontario legislature, following the latter's victory in a 2005 by-
election.[62] In 2014, Davis endorsed Christine Elliott in her
second campaign to become leader of the Ontario PC Party, but
she finished as runner-up to Patrick Brown,[63] whom he would
later endorse in his successful campaign against incumbent
Linda Jeffrey for mayor of Brampton in 2018.[64]

Davis had supported Jeffrey in her 2014 bid for mayor,[65] as Davis in 2014
well as Toronto mayor John Tory, former Ontario PC Party
leader and a principal secretary of Davis in the 1980s.[66]
Incumbent Brampton mayor Susan Fennell was embroiled in numerous scandals over expenses
and financial record-keeping. Davis reportedly convinced Jeffrey to resign from provincial cabinet
to challenge Fennell. After taking office as mayor, Jeffrey appointed Davis to a panel tasked with
bringing a university to Brampton. However, Davis and Jeffrey had a falling out over Peel Region's
proposed Light Rail Transit line, as Jeffrey supported its extension from Hurontario Street in
Mississauga further north along Main Street in Brampton (where it would run by Davis's house),
while Davis preferred an alternative alignment along Queen Street.[65][67]

Throughout his political career, Davis often remarked upon the lasting influence of his hometown
of Brampton, leading to his nickname, "Brampton Billy".[57]

Death
On August 8, 2021, Davis died in Brampton at the age of 92.[2]

Legacy
In a 2012 edition, the Institute for Research on Public Policy's magazine, Policy Options, named
Davis the second-best Canadian premier of the last forty years, beaten only by Peter Lougheed.[68]
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Davis the second-best Canadian premier of the last forty years, beaten only by Peter Lougheed.[68]

Recognition
In 1987, Davis was made an Honorary Senior Fellow of Renison University College, located in
Waterloo, Ontario.[69]
Davis was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1986, received the Order of
Ontario in 1987, and was appointed as a Knight in the Legion of Honour of France in 2001.[57]
On October 24, 2006, Davis received Seneca College's first Honorary degree and was
presented with an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies. "It is fitting that Bill Davis receives
Seneca's first honorary degree", said Dr. Rick Miner, President of Seneca College. "As one of
the architects of the college system in Ontario, he is responsible for a dynamic post-secondary
education environment which continues to be a pillar of our province's economy."[70]
The Public Policy Forum honoured Bill Davis with the Testimonial Award for his contribution to
public life, public policy and governance in Canada at their 2011 Testimonial Dinner.[71]

Eponyms
William G. Davis Public School – Windsor[72]
W. G. Davis Senior Public School – Brampton[73]
William G. Davis Field, Cardinal Leger Secondary School, Brampton[74]
William G. Davis Senior Public School – Cambridge[75]
William G. Davis Public School – Toronto (Scarborough)[76]
Davis Campus, Sheridan College – Brampton[77]
William G. Davis Building, University of Toronto Mississauga – Mississauga[78]
William G. Davis Centre for Computer Research, University of Waterloo – Waterloo[79]
William G. Davis Studio at TVO (where The Agenda with Steve Paikin, who was author of book
on Davis, is televised from)[80]
William G. Davis Trail – Ontario Place, Toronto[81]
A. Grenville and William Davis Courthouse – Brampton[82]
Premier Davis Boulevard (Seneca College Newnham Campus) – North York[83]

References
Citations
1. Hoy 1985, p. 11.
2. Martin, Sandra (August 8, 2021). "Premier Bill Davis was the steady hand driving Ontario's Big
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5. Hoy 1985, pp. 20, 25.
6. Paikin 2016, pp. 47–48.
7. Canadian Press (August 8, 2021). "Bill Davis, Ontario's 18th premier and a celebrated Tory,
dies at 92" (https://www.moosejawtoday.com/national-news/bill-davis-ontarios-18th-premier-an
d-a-celebrated-tory-dies-at-92-4202875). Moosejaw Today. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
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9. Hoy 1985, p. 19.
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Davis" (http://www.torontosun.com/2016/10/10/nothing-bland-about-steve-paikins-new-book-on
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chool-History-and-Tradition.aspx). William G. Davis Public School. Greater Essex County
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73. "Flags at half-mast for The Honourable William G. Davis, former Premier of Ontario" (https://ww
w.peelschools.org/schools/williamgdavis/news/Pages/default.aspx?article=flags-at-half-mast-fo
r-the-honourable-wi-5igou&type=2). William G. Davis Senior Public School. Peel District School
Board. August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
74. "New high school sports field named to honour former premier Bill Davis" (https://www.brampto
nguardian.com/news-story/5937747-new-high-school-sports-field-named-to-honour-former-pre
mier-bill-davis/). Brampton Guardian. Metroland Media Group. September 30, 2015. Retrieved
October 29, 2019.
75. "School History" (https://wgd.wrdsb.ca/about/school-history/). William G Davis Public School,
Cambridge. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
76. "William G. Davis Junior Public School – School History" (https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Find-your/Sch
ools/School-History/schno/4770). Toronto District School Board. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
77. "Davis Campus" (https://www.sheridancollege.ca/about/campus-locations/davis). Sheridan
College. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
78. "Davis praised as 'education Premier' at building re-dedication" (http://www.news.utoronto.ca/c
ampus-news/davis-praised-as-education-premier-at-u-of-t-building-re-dedication.html) (Press
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Davis Page 8 of 9
Bill Davis - Wikipedia 2024-03-12, 8:46 PM

ampus-news/davis-praised-as-education-premier-at-u-of-t-building-re-dedication.html) (Press
release). University of Toronto Mississauga. October 18, 2010. Archived (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20101024154332/http://www.news.utoronto.ca/campus-news/davis-praised-as-educatio
n-premier-at-u-of-t-building-re-dedication.html) from the original on October 24, 2010.
Retrieved October 20, 2010.
79. "A Chronology of Computing at The University of Waterloo – 1987" (https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/40t
h/Chronology/1987.shtml). David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. Retrieved
August 9, 2021.
80. Taube, Michael (December 2016). "The House That Bill Built" (https://reviewcanada.ca/magazi
ne/2016/12/the-house-that-bill-built/). Literary Review of Canada. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
81. "Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail" (https://ontarioplace.com/en/whats-on/trillium-park-an
d-william-g-davis-trail/). Ontario Place. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
82. Paikin 2016, pp. 23–24.
83. Renaming of a portion of Au Large Boulevard east of Don Mills Road (https://www.toronto.ca/le
gdocs/mmis/2018/ny/bgrd/backgroundfile-117074.pdf) (PDF) (Report). City of Toronto. May 28,
2018. Retrieved August 9, 2021.

General bibliography
Hoy, Claire (1985). Bill Davis: A Biography (https://archive.org/details/billdavisbiograp0000hoyc
). Toronto: Methuen Publishing. ISBN 0-458-99130-9. OCLC 13425942 (https://www.worldcat.o
rg/oclc/13425942).
Paikin, Steve (2016). Bill Davis: Nation Builder, and Not So Bland After All (https://books.googl
e.com/books?id=TWqKCwAAQBAJ). Dundurn Press. ISBN 978-1-4597-3175-2. Retrieved
August 8, 2021.

Further reading
Manthorpe, Jonathan (1974). The Power & the Tories. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada.
Speirs, Rosemary (1986). Out of the Blue: The Fall of the Tory Dynasty in Ontario. Toronto:
Macmillan of Canada.

External links
William Grenville Davis – Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history (https://www.ola.o
rg/en/members/all/william-grenville-davis) (archive (https://web.archive.org/web/2016/http://ww
w.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_all_detail.do?locale=en&ID=449))
William G. Davis fonds (https://aims.archives.gov.on.ca/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/DESCRIPTION
_WEB/WEB_DESC_DET?SESSIONSEARCH&exp=sisn%2011495) Archives of Ontario
Order of Canada citation (http://archive.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lan
g=e&TypeID=orc&id=401)

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