David Peterson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable David Peterson PC OOnt KC
Peterson in 2001
20th Premier of Ontario
In office June 26, 1985 – October 1, 1990
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	John Black Aird Lincoln Alexander
Preceded by	Frank Miller
Succeeded by	Bob Rae
Member of Provincial Parliament
In office September 18, 1975 – September 6, 1990
Preceded by	New riding
Succeeded by	Marion Boyd
Constituency	London Centre
Ontario Liberal Party Leader
In office February 21, 1982 – September 6, 1990
Preceded by	Stuart Smith
Succeeded by	Robert Nixon
Leader of the Opposition in the Ontario Legislature
In office February 21, 1982 – June 26, 1985
Preceded by	Robert Nixon
Succeeded by	Frank Miller
Chancellor of the University of Toronto
In office July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2012
Preceded by	Vivienne Poy
Succeeded by	Michael Wilson
Personal details
Born	David Robert Peterson (1943-12-28) December 28, 1943 (age 81) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Liberal
Spouse	Shelley Peterson
Relations	Jim Peterson (brother), Tim Peterson (brother), Deb Matthews (sister-in-law)
Children	3 including Ben Peterson
Residences	London, Ontario, Canada
Alma mater	University of Western Ontario University of Toronto Faculty of Law
Profession	lawyer

David Robert Peterson (born December 28, 1943) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician. He served as the 20th premier of Ontario from 1985 to 1990. A premier is like the head of the government for a Canadian province. He was the first Liberal premier in 42 years. This ended a long period where the Progressive Conservative Party had been in power, often called the "Tory dynasty."

Early Life and Education

David Peterson was born in Toronto, Ontario. His parents were Clarence and Laura Peterson. He has two brothers, Tim and Jim Peterson. Both of his brothers also became politicians.

David grew up in London, Ontario. He studied political science and philosophy at the University of Western Ontario. Later, he earned a law degree from the University of Toronto. He became a lawyer in 1969.

At 26, he became president of his father's electronics business, C.M. Peterson Company Limited. He has received several special honours. These include honorary degrees and being named a member of the Order of Ontario.

In 1974, David Peterson married actress Shelley Peterson. They have three children together.

Political Career

David Peterson began his political career in 1975. He was elected as a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for London Centre. An MPP is a person elected to represent a specific area in the provincial government.

Less than a year later, he tried to become the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. He was only 31 and new to politics. He almost won, losing by a very small number of votes.

Peterson was re-elected as an MPP in 1977 and 1981. He ran for the Liberal leadership again in 1982. This time, he won. He promised to lead the party from the "vibrant middle." He also focused on growing the economy.

Leading the Liberal Party

As the leader of the Liberal Party, Peterson worked hard. He helped the party pay off its debts. He became popular with the public and the media.

In 1985, the Premier at the time, Bill Davis, retired. His replacement, Frank Miller, was not as popular. This gave Peterson's Liberals a chance.

In the 1985 Ontario general election, Peterson's party gained a lot of support. They won 48 seats, while the Progressive Conservatives won 52. This meant no party had a clear majority. The Progressive Conservatives formed a "minority government." This is when a party has the most seats but not more than all other parties combined.

Soon after the election, the Liberal Party and the NDP made an agreement. This was called the "Liberal-NDP Accord." The NDP agreed to support a Liberal government for two years. In return, the Liberals promised to work on some policies the NDP wanted.

Premier of Ontario

On June 18, 1985, the Liberal and NDP parties voted against Miller's government. David Peterson became the Premier of Ontario eight days later. His government introduced many new laws.

In 1987, after the agreement with the NDP ended, Peterson called another election. His party won a huge victory. They took 95 out of 130 seats. This was one of the largest majority governments in Ontario's history.

Key Policies and Challenges

Peterson's government brought in several important changes. They stopped doctors from charging extra fees beyond what health insurance covered. They also introduced laws for equal pay for equal work. His government reformed laws about rent and worker negotiations. They also improved pensions and built more housing.

One big decision was to fully fund Catholic high schools. This had been a long-standing debate in the province. Peterson also spoke out against free trade with the United States. Later, his government focused on protecting the environment. They also removed health insurance fees and brought in "no-fault" car insurance.

Peterson played a major role in the Meech Lake Accord. This was an attempt to change Canada's constitution. Many people in English-speaking Canada did not like it. They felt it gave too many special powers to Quebec. Peterson's support for this accord made him less popular in Ontario. The accord did not pass.

His government also faced a controversy called the "Patti Starr affair." A Liberal fundraiser was found to have misused money. While no one in Peterson's government was accused of crimes, the scandal made people lose trust.

Financially, Peterson's government was known for being careful with money. They achieved a balanced budget in 1989-1990. This was unusual at a time when many governments were spending more than they earned. However, in the early 1990s, Ontario faced an economic slowdown. This made it harder for the government to manage its finances.

Defeat in 1990 Election

In mid-1990, Peterson's Liberal Party was still ahead in the polls. The other parties, the Progressive Conservatives and the NDP, seemed weaker. Peterson decided to call an early election. This turned out to be a big mistake.

Many voters saw the early election as a sign of arrogance. They felt Peterson's Liberals were out of touch. There was no clear reason for the election. People thought Peterson just wanted to win before the economy got worse.

During the campaign, a Greenpeace activist interrupted Peterson's press conference. The activist played a recording of broken environmental promises. This made Peterson look uncomfortable.

Many groups, like teachers and environmentalists, turned against Peterson. They had worked with the Liberals before, but now they protested. The media also reported that the election call was a bad idea. The Liberals' popularity dropped quickly.

On September 6, 1990, the NDP won a surprising victory. They took 74 seats and formed a majority government. The Liberal Party lost a lot of seats, going from 95 down to 36. David Peterson even lost his own seat in London Centre. This loss ended his political career. He resigned as Liberal leader on election night.

Life After Politics

After leaving provincial politics, David Peterson continued to be involved in public life. He helped raise money for the federal and provincial Liberal parties. In 2005, he helped convince a Conservative Member of Parliament to join the Liberal Party. This was important for the Liberal government at the time.

Peterson served as the Chancellor of the University of Toronto from 2006 to 2012. A chancellor is a ceremonial head of a university.

In 2013, he was chosen to lead the organizing committee for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. He was also the first chairman of the Toronto Raptors, a professional basketball team.

He has worked as a professor and a senior partner at a law firm. He has also been involved with many charities and cultural groups. He serves on the boards of several companies, including Rogers Communications.

In 2020, Peterson became part of a group that bought Torstar Corporation, the company that owns the Toronto Star newspaper. He now serves as the chairman of Torstar.

Images for kids

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  Peterson as Chancellor of the University of Toronto in 2009

See also

In Spanish: David Peterson para niños