In June 1985, David Peterson was sworn in as the leader of Ontario’s first Liberal government in forty-two years. This collection of speeches explores the activist agenda the London, Ontario, lawyer pursued through his premiership, which sought to ensure all Ontarians were able to participate fully in provincial society. When Peterson was asked what he viewed as his most important accomplishment, he thought for a brief moment and then whispered with obvious emotion, “breaking down walls and barriers.”
Through his speeches, readers can see Premier Peterson on the wider Canadian stage by addressing the economic challenges faced by the federation - most notably free trade - and by supporting the Meech Lake Accord, which was designed to bring Quebec into the constitutional family. His speeches also show him on the global stage, engaged in the challenges of the transformation of world politics and Canada’s trading relationship with the United States. By the time Peterson’s premiership had come to an end in 1990, the Berlin Wall had fallen, Europe was increasingly integrated, a fragmented Soviet Union was beginning to collapse, the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement was in full force and effect, and the age of globalization had begun.
Through this selection of speeches, the editors also present insights into a range of other figures, from former premiers and Peterson’s political contemporaries to the British royal family. Particularly powerful tributes include Nelson Mandela’s first visit to Canada and Peterson’s eulogy for MPP Dalton McGuinty, Sr, the father of Ontario’s 24th premier. TVOntario’s Steve Paikin provides an in-depth introduction that puts the life and political times of Premier Peterson and his government in broader perspective.
Details
Part of the Queen's Policy Studies Series (number 192 in series)
272 Pages, 6 x 9
Queen's Policy Studies Series - School of Policy Studies
ISBN 9781553395256
August 2017
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Arthur Milnes is a journalist and was a speechwriter for Prime Minister Stephen Harper from 2012 to 2014.
Ryan Zade has held research, policy, educational, and management positions in the public and non-profit sector.
Preface ix
Acknowledgements xiii
Financial Contributors xv
Introduction: The David Peterson Years, by Steve Paikin 1
David Peterson the Federalist 29
Premiers’ Conference, St. John’s, Newfoundland, August 21, 1985 31
Native Business Summit Foundation Conference and Trade Show, Toronto, Ontario, June 24, 1986 33
First Ministers’ Conference, Vancouver, BC, November 20, 1986 37
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, Edmonton, Alberta, April 7, 1987 43
First Ministers’ Conference on the Economy, Toronto, Ontario, November 26, 1987 50
First Ministers’ Conference on the Economy, Ottawa, Ontario, November 9, 1989 58
David Peterson and the Meech Lake Accord 65
First Ministers’ Meeting, Ottawa, Ontario, June 2, 1987 67
Rekindling the National Dream, Toronto, Ontario, November 6, 1989 70
Address to the Quebec City Chamber of Commerce, Quebec City, Quebec, February 5, 1990 78
Address to the Special Committee of the House of Commons to Study a Proposed Companion Resolution to the Meech Lake Accord, Ottawa, Ontario, May 5, 1990 84
Address to the Newfoundland Legislature, General Assembly of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland, June 20, 1990 89
Address to the Legislature of Ontario on the Failure of the Meech Lake Accord, Queen’s Park, June 25, 1990 103
Ontario and the World: 1985-1990 107
Consular Corps Luncheon, Toronto, Ontario, December 19, 1989 109
Address to the Americas Society, New York, New York, November 6, 1989 111
Canadian-American Pageant: 175th Anniversary of the War of 1812, Sackets Harbor, New York, July 18, 1987 117
Remarks to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the Canada-Japan Society, Okura Hotel, Tokyo, Japan, September 29, 1986 120
Pacific Rim Conference, Toronto, Ontario, December 1, 1987 124
Ontario: A Global Competitor, World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland, January 29, 1988 130
Opening of Ontario House, London, England, February 3, 1988 137
Ontario: Canada’s Dynamic Centre, Heidelberg, West Germany, February 5, 1988 139
Breaking Down Walls and Barriers: David Peterson as Policy Maker 143
Speech to the Ontario Legislature on the New Liberal Government’s Legislative Program, Toronto, Ontario, July 2, 1985 145
Learning for Life: Education and Training in the ’90s, Designs for a Changing World Conference, Toronto, Ontario, May 28, 1990 155
Canadian Mental Health Association, C. M. Hincks Award Dinner, Toronto, Ontario, May 3, 1988 60
Ontario Liberal Party Annual Meeting, Hamilton, Ontario, April 1, 1989 163
Conservation Council of Ontario’s 35th Anniversary Dinner, Toronto, Ontario, October 22, 1986 169
Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, Toronto, Ontario, March 28, 1989 173
Achievements in Employment Equity Awards Dinner, Toronto, Ontario, October 8, 1985 176
Third Reading of the French Languages Services Act, Queen’s Park, November 18, 1986 180
To a Meeting of Ontario Public Service Executives, Toronto, Ontario, March 5, 1986 182
Announcing the Honourable John Black Aird’s Study into Conflict of Interest, Queen’s Park, July 2, 1986 187
60th Anniversary for Ontario Separate School Trustees’ Association, Toronto, Ontario, April 20, 1990 191
David Peterson the Politician 197
London Centre Nomination Meeting, London, Ontario, October 9, 1984 199
First Campaign Speech as Leader, Toronto, Ontario, March 25, 1985 201
Election Night, London, Ontario, May 2, 1985 204
Reply to the Speech from the Throne, Queen’s Park, June 7, 1985 206
Swearing-in of the First Peterson Cabinet, Queen’s Park Lawn, June 26, 1985 215
Ontario Liberal Party Heritage Dinner, Toronto, Ontario, May 14, 1986 217
Quetico Caucus Retreat, Atikokan, Ontario, September 8, 1988 222
In Defence of the “L” Word, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, March 15, 1989 226
1990 Election Call, Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario, July 30, 1990 233
Paying Tribute 237
Unveiling of the Portrait of Premier Frank Miller, Queen’s Park, December 1, 1986 239
Unveiling of the Portrait of Premier Bill Davis, Queen’s Park, October 19, 1989 240
Fundraiser with Premier Frank McKenna, London, Ontario, April 12, 1989 243
Federal Liberal Party Confederation Dinner Tribute to John Turner, Toronto, Ontario, November 1, 1989 245
Dinner for Michael Dukakis, Governor of Massachusetts, Toronto, Ontario, May 31, 1989 246
Welcome to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Queen’s Park, July 6, 1989 250
Introducing Nelson Mandela, Toronto, Ontario, June 18, 1990 251
Eulogy for Dalton McGuinty, Sr., Ottawa, Ontario, March 20, 1990 252
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