It was a record of success unparalleled in the western world. In fact, you had to look to the Communist Party of Albania to find a political machine with a comparable record to Ontario's Progressive Conservatives (and my recollection is, the Albanians didn't worry about the niceties of elections, as the Tories had to).
From 1943 to 1985, the Ontario PC Party ran Canada's most populous province. Colonel George Drew defeated a tired Liberal party in the midst of World War II and for the next 42 years, the Tories managed to combine relatively decent government with timely generational change to create a dynasty.
In the 1950s, it was Leslie Frost from Lindsay, Ontario, that assumed the reins and won the most overwhelming majority governments ever. In the 1960s, London's John Robarts took over and ushered in some of the most sweeping and modern policies in history. He turned the Big Blue Machine over to William Davis in the 1970s, and Davis won four consecutive elections, eventually retiring in 1985 as the longest-serving premier of the 20th century.
But in 1985, Conservative party members got away from the formula which had worked so well. From Drew, to Frost, to Robarts, to Davis, each time the party had chosen a new leader who represented "the next generation."
In 1985, delegates to the PC Convention chose Muskoka's Frank Miller to replace Davis. Like previous Tory leaders, Miller was from outside Toronto (even though he was born there). But he was a few years older than Davis, too right wing for Ontario of the 1980s, and inexplicably, allowed his campaign people to run him as the second coming of Bill Davis, rather than as the folksy, personable, competent politician he was.
Interestingly enough, even though Miller's Tories ran an appallingly bad campaign, they still won. The 1985 election results saw 52 PC's, 48 Liberals, and 25 New Democrats. But unlike in the 1970s, when Bill Davis could only hold power with minority governments (twice), the opposition parties had had enough of the Tory dynasty.
Bob Rae, then the NDP leader, combined forces with the second place party, David Peterson's Liberals, to oust the Tories. The dynasty was over.
Twenty-five years ago tomorrow (June 26, 1985), David Peterson became the first Liberal premier in more than four decades. From the second he was born, Peterson had only ever lived under Tory rule in Ontario. But no longer.
Tonight, we'll explore how the Conservative dynasty ended, the historical significance of "The Accord" signed by the Liberals and New Democrats to oust the Tories, and why after just five years, the Liberals themselves were sent packing by an increasingly cynical electorate.
Former Premier David Peterson will join us to share his reflections on the times. Then five guests will add their analysis. What were they doing in 1985?
* Greg Sorbara, who was running in his first election and unexpectedly became a 39 year old cabinet minister.
* Ernie Eves, a rookie MPP at the time who had been in cabinet for all of five months before finding himself in opposition
* Robin Sears, who would become NDP leader Bob Rae's chief of staff
* Sylvia Bashevkin, the principal of University College at the U of T, who's studied this time in our history.
* Jim Coyle, superb Queen's Park columnist at The Toronto Star, who rode the campaign buses in 1985 and as such, had a front row seat at the unfolding drama.
Hope to see you at 8 and/or 11 pm on TVO.
