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List of premiers of Ontario

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Below is a list of the premiers of the province of Ontario, Canada, since Confederation in 1867. Ontario uses a unicameral Westminster-style parliamentary government, in which the premier is the leader of the party that controls the most seats in the Legislative Assembly. The premier is Ontario's head of government. The premier picks a cabinet from the elected members to form the Executive Council of Ontario, and presides over that body.

Members are first elected to the legislature during general elections. General elections must be conducted every four years from the date of the last election. An election may also happen if the Governing party loses the confidence of the legislature, by the defeat of a supply bill or tabling of a confidence motion.

This article only covers the time since the Canadian Confederation was created in 1867. For the premiers of Canada West from 1840 to 1867, see List of joint premiers of the Province of Canada.

The 26th and current premier of Ontario is Doug Ford of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario since June 29, 2018.

Premiers of Ontario since 1867

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Electoral mandates (Assembly) Political party Riding Cabinet Ref.
1
John Sandfield Macdonald
(1812–1872) 		16 July
1867 		20 December
1871 		Title created (caretaker government)⁠

1867 election (1st Leg.)

Liberal–Conservative MLA for Cornwall  
Macdonald led a Coalition between the Liberal-Conservative Party and the Liberal Party; was also an MP in the House of Commons until 1872.
2
Edward Blake
(1833–1912) 		20 December
1871 		25 October
1872 		1871 election (2nd Leg.) Liberal MLA for Bruce South  
Resigned to lead the federal Liberal Party
3
Sir Oliver Mowat
(1820–1903) 		25 October
1872 		21 July
1896 		Appointment (2nd Leg.)⁠

1875 election (3rd Leg.)⁠

1879 election (4th Leg.)⁠

1883 election (5th Leg.)⁠

1886 election (6th Leg.)⁠

1890 election (7th Leg.)⁠

1894 election (8th Leg.)

Liberal MLA for Oxford North  
Secured a large amount of power for the provinces through court battles with the federal government; introduced the secret ballot in elections and extended suffrage beyond property owners; created the municipal level of government; 1894 Ontario prohibition plebiscite
4
Arthur Sturgis Hardy
(1837–1901) 		21 July
1896 		21 October
1899 		Appointment (8th Leg.)⁠

1898 election (9th Leg.)

Liberal MLA for Brant South  
5
Sir George William Ross
(1841–1914) 		21 October
1899 		8 February
1905 		Appointment (9th Leg.)⁠

1902 election (10th Leg.)

Liberal MLA for Middlesex West  
Expanded libraries, kindergarten, and university grants; 1902 Ontario prohibition referendum
6
Sir James Whitney
(1843–1914) 		8 February
1905 		25 September
1914 		1905 election (11th Leg.)⁠

1908 election (12th Leg.)⁠

1911 election (13th Leg.)⁠

1914 election (14th Leg.)

Conservative MLA for Dundas  
Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario; Workmen's Compensation Act; temperance legislation; Regulation 17; Only Premier to die in office (1914).
7
Sir William Hearst
(1864–1941) 		2 October
1914 		14 November
1919 		Appointment (14th Leg.) Conservative MLA for Sault Ste. Marie  
Ontario Temperance Act; expanded workers injury compensation; allowed woman suffrage; 1919 Ontario prohibition referendum
8
Ernest Drury
(1878–1968) 		14 November
1919 		16 July
1923 		1919 election (15th Leg.) United Farmers MLA for Halton  
Led a Coalition between the United Farmers party and the Labour MLAs; did not win a seat in the legislature until a 1920 by-election; created the first Department of Welfare; set a minimum wage for women; expanded Ontario Hydro; created the Province of Ontario Savings Office; began the first major reforestation program in North America; 1921 Ontario prohibition referendum
9
Howard Ferguson
(1870–1946) 		16 July
1923 		15 December
1930 		1923 election (16th Leg.)⁠

1926 election (17th Leg.)⁠

1929 election (18th Leg.)

Conservative
(Ldr. 1920) 		MLA for Grenville  
Relaxed Regulation 17; created the Liquor Control Board of Ontario; 1924 Ontario prohibition referendum
10
George Stewart Henry
(1871–1958) 		15 December
1930 		10 July
1934 		Appointment (18th Leg.) Conservative MLA for York East  
Expansion of highway system, including construction of what became the Queen Elizabeth Way
11
Mitchell Hepburn
(1896–1953) 		10 July
1934 		21 October
1942 		1934 election (19th Leg.)⁠

1937 election (20th Leg.)

Liberal
(Ldr. 1930) 		MLA for Elgin (MPP after 1938)  
Greatly cutting government spending; succession tax; compulsory milk pasteurization; relaxed temperance laws; made the Dionne Quintuplets wards of the state; unsuccessfully tried to break the first United Auto Workers strike against GM; closed Chorley Park; conflict with PM Mackenzie King over conduct of WWII and conscription.
12
Gordon Daniel Conant
(1885–1953) 		21 October
1942 		18 May
1943 		Appointment (20th Leg.) Liberal MPP for Ontario  
"Appointed" premier by Liberal leader Mitchell Hepburn but forced to call and contest leadership convention due to caucus revolt, which he lost to Nixon.
13
Harry Nixon
(1891–1961) 		18 May
1943 		17 August
1943 		Appointment (20th Leg.) Liberal
(Ldr. 1943) 		MPP for Brant  
Long-time minister in UFO and Liberal governments. Called an election immediately after becoming premier and led his government to defeat. Shortest-serving Ontario premier but went on to be Ontario's longest-serving MPP.
14
George A. Drew
(1894–1973) 		17 August
1943 		19 October
1948 		1943 election (21st Leg.)⁠

1945 election (22nd Leg.)⁠

1948 election (23rd Leg.)

Progressive Conservative
(Ldr. 1938) 		MPP for High Park   ^α
Began a 42-year Conservative dynasty; Drew Regulation; LeBel Royal Commission; joined Ontario to North American power grid, increased provincial share of Education spending; opened immigration offices in UK and arranged for cheap charter flights to bring 20,000 British immigrants to Ontario.
15
Thomas Laird Kennedy
(1878–1959) 		19 October
1948 		4 May
1949 		Appointment (23rd Leg.) Progressive Conservative MPP for Peel  
Interim premier between resignation of Drew and leadership convention to choose his successor.
16
Leslie Frost
(1895–1973) 		4 May
1949 		8 November
1961 		Appointment (23rd Leg.)⁠

1951 election (24th Leg.)⁠

1955 election (25th Leg.)⁠

1959 election (26th Leg.)

Progressive Conservative
(Ldr. 1949) 		MPP for Victoria  
400-series highways; Provincial Sales Tax; public hospital insurance which would become OHIP; Expansion of universities; Fair Employment Practices Act and Fair Accommodation Practices Act and Ontario Human Rights Commission created; Voting rights for First Nations; Creation of Metropolitan Toronto and Toronto's first subway.
17
John Robarts
(1917–1982) 		8 November
1961 		1 March
1971 		Appointment (26th Leg.)⁠

1963 election (27th Leg.)⁠

1967 election (28th Leg.)

Progressive Conservative
(Ldr. 1961) 		MPP for London North  
Ontario Human Rights Code; 1967 "Confederation of Tomorrow" conference; Ontario Housing Corporation created; French education in Ontario schools; Creation of Ontario Health Insurance Plan; Creation of community college system; Creation of TVOntario; Creation of GO Transit; Creation of the Ontario Science Centre.
18
Bill Davis
(1929–2021) 		1 March
1971 		8 February
1985 		Appointment (28th Leg.)⁠

1971 election (29th Leg.)⁠

1975 election (30th Leg.)⁠

1977 election (31st Leg.)⁠

1981 election (32nd Leg.)

Progressive Conservative
(Ldr. 1971) 		MPP for Peel North
(1971-1975)

MPP for Brampton
(1975-1985)

 
Spadina Expressway; rejected (1971) then later partly extended (1984); full funding to Ontario's Catholic high schools; expansion of health care and education; extension of Ontario Human Rights Code provisions; expansion of French-language services ; new regional governments; Rent controls; social housing expansion; Played a key role in patriation of the Canadian Constitution.
19
Frank Miller
(1927–2000) 		8 February
1985 		26 June
1985 		Appointment (32nd Leg.)⁠

1985 election (33rd Leg.)

Progressive Conservative
(Ldr. 1985) 		MPP for Muskoka  
Lost a motion of no confidence immediately after the election and resigned power to the opposition party.
20
David Peterson
(b. 1943) 		26 June
1985 		1 October
1990 		Appointment (33rd Leg.)⁠

1987 election (34th Leg.)

Liberal
(Ldr. 1982) 		MPP for London Centre  
Had the second-most seats in the 33rd assembly, but formed an accord with the New Democratic Party that would let the Liberal Party take power without forming an official coalition. Banned extra-billing by doctors and ended health insurance premiums. Reforms to rent laws, labour negotiation laws, pensions, environment; implemented extension of Catholic school funding to grade 13 announced by previous government; supported the Meech Lake Accord; Introduced no-fault auto insurance; Patti Starr scandal
21
Bob Rae
(b. 1948) 		1 October
1990 		26 June
1995 		1990 election (35th Leg.) New Democratic
(Ldr. 1982) 		MPP for York South Rae cabinet
Social Contract and clash with unions; Rae days; Pay equity; Affirmative action; Strengthening of rent control; anti-scab legislation; Reserve status for North Ontario Aboriginals; Moratorium on new nuclear plants; Attempted to maintain ban on Sunday shopping before allowing it; Introduction of casinos; Attempted to bring in extension of spousal benefits for same-sex partners.
22
Mike Harris
(b. 1945) 		26 June
1995 		14 April
2002 		1995 election (36th Leg.)⁠

1999 election (37th Leg.)

Progressive Conservative
(Ldr. 1990) 		MPP for Nipissing  
Common Sense Revolution; 30% tax cut; 21% cut to social assistance rates; attempted to introduce Workfare; cancelled urban infrastructure projects including Eglinton subway; cut government spending; downloading of Ontario Housing to municipalities; provincial funding for municipal transit reduced; Telehealth Ontario created; division of Ontario Hydro; municipal amalgamations, including Amalgamation of Toronto; Elimination of OAC year (Grade 13) and re-introduction of standardized testing; privatization of Highway 407; Ipperwash Crisis; teacher strikes; $1B cut from Education; Walkerton Tragedy; Ontario's Drive Clean; hospital closures and health restructuring.
23
Ernie Eves
(b. 1946) 		15 April
2002 		22 October
2003 		Appointment (37th Leg.) Progressive Conservative
(Ldr. 2002) 		MPP for Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey  
Kimberly Rogers and welfare reform; Possible sale of Hydro One and problem with hydro costs due to hot summers and 2003 North America blackout.
24
Dalton McGuinty
(b. 1955) 		23 October
2003 		11 February
2013 		2003 election (38th Leg.)⁠

2007 election (39th Leg.)⁠

2011 election (40th Leg.)

Liberal
(Ldr. 1996) 		MPP for Ottawa South  
Green Energy and Economy Act; Auto insurance reforms; Cancelled tax cuts; Increase in health spending and Health Premium tax; Transfer of gas tax to municipalities; Breed-specific legislation aka ban on/government-sanctioned euthanization of 'pit bulls' and dogs considered to resemble 'pit bulls'; Established the Greenbelt; Renegotiation of federal equalization; Expansion of Ontario's Drive Clean; full-day kindergarten; MoveOntario; eHealth Ontario scandal; Harmonized Sales Tax; Ontario power plant scandal. On October 15, 2012, unexpected announcement of resignation and prorogation of legislature.
25
Kathleen Wynne
(b. 1953) 		11 February
2013 		29 June
2018 		Appointment (40th Leg.)⁠

2014 election (41st Leg.)

Liberal
(Ldr. 2013) 		MPP for Don Valley West Wynne cabinet
First female Premier of Ontario, first openly gay premier in Canada; Ontario-Québec Relations (500 megawatts (MW) of peak electricity sharing); Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act; The Great Lakes Protection Act; $30-billion investment into transportation across the province; privatization of Hydro One; allowed beer and wine to be sold in certain grocery stores;implementation of controversial updated sex education in public schools; raised the minimum wage in Ontario to $14; created the OHIP+ program to provide prescription drugs free for youth under 25; conflicted with the Auditor General and Financial Accountability Office over budgeting. On June 7, 2018, led party to worst defeat of a governing party in Ontario history. Canceled the construction of two natural gas power plants: one in Mississauga and another in Oakville. the Liberal government stated that the cost of the cancellations was $230 million — $190 million for the Mississauga plant and $40 million for the Oakville plant
26
Doug Ford
(b. 1964) 		29 June
2018 		incumbent 2018 election (42nd Leg.)⁠

2022 election (43rd Leg.)

Progressive Conservative
(Ldr. 2018) 		MPP for Etobicoke North Ford cabinet
Cancelled the provincial cap and trade system. Cut Toronto City Council from 47 to 25 wards. Buck-a-beer. Reduced the small business tax rate by 8.7%. Scrapped the 2015 sex-ed curriculum in favour of the 1998–2014 curriculum. Introduced free dental care for low-income seniors. Oversaw Ontario's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Removed passenger vehicle license plate renewal fees. Raised the provincial minimum wage to $15 per hour in January 2022 and $16.50 in October 2023. Closed the Ontario Science Centre. Involved with Greenbelt scandal. Leased Ontario Place to Therme Canada for redevelopment.
Party won the election, but premier lost own seat.

See also

For more lists of this type, see Lists of incumbents.

Notes

  1. "John Sandfield Macdonald, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  2. "Edward Blake, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  3. "Oliver Mowat, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  4. "Arthur Sturgis Hardy, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  5. "George William Ross, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  6. "James Pliny Whitney, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  7. "William Howard Hearst, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  8. "Ernest Charles Drury, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  9. "George Howard Ferguson, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  10. "George Stewart Henry, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  11. "Mitchell Frederick Hepburn, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  12. "Gordon Daniel Conant, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  13. "Harry Corwin Nixon, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  14. "George Alexander Drew, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  15. "Thomas Laird Kennedy, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  16. "Leslie Miscampbell Frost, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  17. "John Parmenter Robarts, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  18. "William Grenville Davis, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  19. "Frank Stuart Miller, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  20. "David Robert Peterson, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  21. "Bob Keith Rae, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  22. "Michael Harris, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  23. "Ernie Eves, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  24. "Dalton McGuinty, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  25. "McGuinty Government Takes Office; Ready To Get To Work For All Ontarians". Office of the Premier of Ontario. October 23, 2003. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  26. "Meeting with the Premier and Ms. Wynne". Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. Archived from the original on June 7, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  27. "Kathleen Wynne, MPP". Legislative Assembly website. Legislative Assembly on Ontario. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  28. "Jobs, Economy, a Fair Society: Priorities for New Ontario Government". Office of the Premier of Ontario. February 11, 2013. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  29. ^ "Doug Ford to Become Ontario's 26th Premier". Government of Ontario. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  30. ^ Denette, Nathan (8 June 2018). "Doug Ford has won Ontario's election. What happens now? A guide". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  31. "Doug Ford delivers 'buck-a-beer', but corner stores will have to wait | The Star". thestar.com. The Star. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  32. https://www.infrastructureontario.ca/4a7d2d/contentassets/84df22e71b7c40b2aaeef94da88c78b5/ontario-place---therme-lease.pdf

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