Davis ministry

The Davis ministry was the combined cabinet (formally the Executive Council of Ontario) that governed Ontario from March 1, 1971, to February 8, 1985. It was the longest-lived ministry of Ontario in the 20th century.

Davis ministry
17th ministry of Ontario
Premier Bill Davis in 1979
Date formed	March 1, 1971 (1971-03-01)
Date dissolved	February 8, 1985 (1985-02-08)
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	William Ross Macdonald (1971-1974) Pauline Mills McGibbon (1974-1980) John Black Aird (1980-1985)
Premier	Bill Davis
Deputy Premier	position created Bob Welch (1977-1985)
Member party	PC Party
Status in legislature	Majority (1971-1975; 1981-1985) Minority (1975-1981)
Opposition party	Liberal, Ontario New Democratic Party
Opposition leader	Robert Nixon (Liberal, 1971-1975) Stephen Lewis (NDP, 1975-1977) Stuart Lyon Smith (Liberal, 1977-1981) Robert Nixon (Liberal, 1982) David Peterson (Liberal, 1982-1985)
History
Elections	1971, 1975, 1977, 1981
Legislature term	28th Parliament of Ontario 29th Parliament of Ontario 30th Parliament of Ontario 31st Parliament of Ontario 32nd Parliament of Ontario
Incoming formation	1971 PC leadership convention
Outgoing formation	resignation
Predecessor	Robarts ministry
Successor	Miller ministry

It was led by the 18th Premier of Ontario, Bill Davis. The ministry was made up of members of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, which commanded at first a majority, and then a minority, before returning at last to majority status in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The ministry replaced the Robarts ministry following the resignation of Premier John Robarts and the 1971 PC leadership convention. The Davis ministry governed through the last few months of the 28th Parliament of Ontario, through the entirety of the 29th, 30th, and 31st Parliaments of Ontario, and most of the 32nd Parliament of Ontario.

Davis resigned as Premier of Ontario in 1985 and was succeeded as Premier of Ontario by David Peterson.

ola.org says Mitchell is Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations 1982-1983 but I doubt it. Also says Welch was AG after January 1975, but I think Clement is in by then (that's what ola.org says and it makes the most sense)

Davis's first election was October 21, 1971. I guess his cabinet sits until December 8, 1971? That's when Wishart goes.

It is unclear if Intergovernmental Affairs separates from Treasurer etc. August 18, 1978 or August 30, 1979. I am going with 1978, because otherwise Wells has nothing to do.

Wins minorities in September 18, 1975 and June 9, 1977; majority in March 19, 1981

List of ministers

Davis Ministry by Leadership Position

Position	Minister	Tenure
		Start	End
Premier of Ontario	Bill Davis[1]	March 1, 1971	February 8, 1985
Deputy Premier of Ontario	Bob Welch[2] position created	September 21, 1977	February 8, 1985
House Leader	Thomas Leonard Wells[3]	December 23, 1983	February 8, 1985
Chief Whip	Bud Gregory[4]	April 10, 1981	July 6, 1983
	Robert G. Eaton[5]	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985

Davis ministry by portfolio

Portfolio	Minister	Tenure
		Start	End
Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet[a]	Darcy McKeough[6][b]	March 1, 1971	April 7, 1972
	Charles MacNaughton[7]	February 2, 1972	September 28, 1972
	Eric Winkler[8]	September 28, 1972	October 7, 1975
	James Auld[9]	October 7, 1975	August 18, 1978
	George McCague[10]	August 18, 1978	February 8, 1985
Minister of Agriculture and Food	William Atcheson Stewart[11]	March 1, 1971	October 7, 1975
	Bill Newman[12]	October 7, 1975	August 30, 1979
	Lorne Henderson[13]	August 30, 1979	February 13, 1982
	Dennis Timbrell[14]	February 13, 1982	February 8, 1985
Attorney General[c]	Allan Lawrence[15]	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	Dalton Bales[16]	February 2, 1972	February 26, 1974
	Bob Welch	February 26, 1974	January 14, 1975
	John Clement[17]	January 14, 1975	October 7, 1975
	Roy McMurtry[18]	October 7, 1975	February 8, 1985
Minister of Citizenship and Culture[d]	Bob Welch	January 14, 1975	August 18, 1978
	Reuben Baetz[19]	August 18, 1978	February 13, 1982
	Bruce McCaffrey[20]	February 13, 1982	July 6, 1983
	Susan Fish[21]	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Colleges and Universities[e]	John White[22]	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	George Kerr[23]	February 2, 1972	September 28, 1972
	Jack McNie[24]	September 28, 1972	February 26, 1974
	James Auld	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
	Harry Parrott[25]	October 7, 1975	August 18, 1978
	Bette Stephenson[26]	August 18, 1978	February 8, 1985
Minister of Community and Social Services[f]	Thomas Leonard Wells	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	René Brunelle[27]	February 2, 1972	October 7, 1975
	James A. Taylor[28]	October 7, 1975	February 3, 1977
	Keith Norton[29]	February 3, 1977	April 10, 1981
	Frank Drea[30]	April 10, 1981	September 29, 1983
	Bruce McCaffrey interim	September 29, 1983	November 21, 1983
	Frank Drea	November 21, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations[g]	Arthur Wishart[31]	March 1, 1971	December 8, 1971
	Gordon Carton[32]	December 8, 1971	February 2, 1972
	Eric Winkler	February 2, 1972	September 28, 1972
	John Clement	September 28, 1972	June 18, 1975
	Sid Handleman[33]	June 18, 1975	September 21, 1977
	Larry Grossman[34]	September 21, 1977	October 18, 1978
	Frank Drea	October 18, 1978	April 10, 1981
	Gordon Walker[35]	April 10, 1981	February 13, 1982
	Robert C. Mitchell?[36]	April 30, 1982	September 12, 1983
	Robert Elgie[37]	February 13, 1982	February 8, 1985
Minister of Correctional Services	Syl Apps[38]	March 1, 1971	February 26, 1974
	Richard Potter[39]	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
	John Smith[40]	October 7, 1975	February 3, 1977
	Arthur Meen[41]	February 3, 1977	June 23, 1977
	John MacBeth[42] interim	June 23, 1977	September 21, 1977
	Frank Drea	September 21, 1977	October 18, 1978
	Gordon Walker	October 18, 1978	April 10, 1981
	Nick Leluk[43]	April 10, 1981	February 8, 1985
Minister of Education	Bob Welch	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	Thomas Wells	February 2, 1972	August 18, 1978
	Bette Stephenson	August 18, 1978	February 8, 1985
Minister of Energy[h]	George Kerr	March 1, 1971	July 23, 1971
	Did not exist[i]	July 23, 1971	July 4, 1973
	Darcy McKeough	July 4, 1973	June 18, 1975
	Dennis Timbrell	June 18, 1975	February 3, 1977
	James A. Taylor	February 3, 1977	January 21, 1978
	Reuben Baetz	January 21, 1978	August 18, 1978
	James Auld	August 18, 1978	August 30, 1979
	Bob Welch	August 30, 1979	July 6, 1983
	Philip Andrewes[44]	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of the Environment[j]	George Kerr	July 23, 1971	February 2, 1972
	James Auld	February 2, 1972	February 26, 1974
	Bill Newman	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
	George Kerr	October 7, 1975	January 21, 1978
	George McCague	January 21, 1978	August 18, 1978
	Harry Craig Parrott	August 18, 1978	April 10, 1981
	Keith Norton	April 10, 1981	July 6, 1983
	Andy Brandt[45]	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Treasurer and Minister of Economics[k]	Darcy McKeough	March 1, 1971	September 7, 1972
	Charles MacNaughton	September 7, 1972	January 15, 1973
	John White	January 15, 1973	June 18, 1975
	Darcy McKeough	June 18, 1975	August 18, 1978
	Frank Miller[46]	August 18, 1978	July 6, 1983
	Larry Grossman	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Government Services[l]	James Auld	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	James W. Snow[47]	February 2, 1972	October 7, 1975
	Margaret Scrivener[48]	October 7, 1975	February 3, 1977
	John Smith	February 3, 1977	June 23, 1977
	James Auld	June 23, 1977	September 21, 1977
	George McCague	September 21, 1977	January 21, 1978
	Lorne Henderson	January 21, 1978	August 30, 1979
	Douglas Wiseman	August 30, 1979	July 6, 1983
	George Ashe[49]	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Health	Bert Lawrence[50]	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	Richard Potter	February 2, 1972	February 26, 1974
	Frank Miller	February 26, 1974	February 3, 1977
	Dennis Timbrell	February 3, 1977	February 13, 1982
	Larry Grossman	February 13, 1982	July 6, 1983
	Keith Norton	July 6, 1983	October 11, 1983
	Thomas Leonard Wells interim	October 11, 1983	December 5, 1983
	Keith Norton	December 5, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs	merged with Treasurer	1972	1978
	Thomas Leonard Wells	August 18, 1978	February 8, 1985
Minister of Industry and Trade Development[m]	Allan Grossman[51]	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	John White	February 2, 1972	January 15, 1973
	Claude Bennett[52]	January 15, 1973	January 21, 1978
	John Rhodes[53]	January 21, 1978	September 25, 1978
	vacant	September 25, 1978	October 18, 1978
	Larry Grossman	October 18, 1978	February 13, 1982
	Gordon Walker	February 13, 1982	July 6, 1983
	Frank Miller	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Labour	Gordon Carton	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	Fernand Guindon[54]	February 2, 1972	May 31, 1974
	John MacBeth	May 31, 1974	October 7, 1975
	Bette Stephenson	October 7, 1975	August 18, 1978
	Robert Elgie	August 18, 1978	February 13, 1982
	Russ Ramsay[55]	February 13, 1982	February 8, 1985
Minister of Municipal Affairs	Dalton Bales	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	Darcy McKeough	February 2, 1972	April 7, 1972
	merged with Intergovermental Affairs	April 7, 1972	July 3, 1981
	merged with Municipal Affairs and Housing	July 3, 1981	February 8, 1985
Minister of Housing[n]	Bob Welch	November 7, 1973	February 26, 1974
	Sid Handleman	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1974
	Donald Irvine[56]	October 7, 1974	October 7, 1975
	John Rhodes	October 7, 1975	January 21, 1978
	Claude Bennett	January 21, 1978	July 3, 1981
	merged with Municipal Affairs and Housing	July 3, 1981	February 8, 1985
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing	Claude Bennett	July 3, 1981	February 8, 1985
Minister of Natural Resources[o]	René Brunelle	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	Leo Bernier[57]	February 2, 1972	February 3, 1977
	Frank Miller	February 3, 1977	August 18, 1978
	James Auld	August 18, 1978	April 10, 1981
	Alan Pope[58]	April 10, 1981	February 8, 1985
Minister of Northern Affairs[p]	Leo Bernier	March 1, 1971	April 7, 1972
	merged with Natural Resources?	1972	1977
	Leo Bernier	February 3, 1977	February 8, 1985
Minister Responsible for Women's Issues	Bob Welch	May 17, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Revenue	Eric Alfred Winkler	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	Allan Grossman	February 2, 1972	February 26, 1974
	Arthur Meen	February 26, 1974	February 3, 1977
	Margaret Scrivener	February 3, 1977	January 21, 1978
	Lorne Maeck[59]	January 21, 1978	April 10, 1981
	George Ashe	April 10, 1981	July 6, 1983
	Bud Gregory	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Minister of Tourism and Recreation[q]	Fernand Guindon	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	John White	February 2, 1972	April 7, 1972
	merged with Industry and Tourism	April 7, 1972	February 13, 1982
	Reuben Baetz	February 13, 1982	February 8, 1985
Minister of Transportation and Communications[r]	Charles MacNaughton	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	Gordon Carton	February 2, 1972	February 26, 1974
	John Rhodes	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
	James W. Snow	October 7, 1975	February 8, 1985
Ministers Without Portfolios	Richard Potter	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	James W. Snow	March 1, 1971	February 2, 1972
	Claude Bennett	September 28, 1972	January 15, 1973
	Margaret Birch	September 28, 1972	February 26, 1974)
	Jack McNie	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
	Donald Irvine	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1974
	Sid Handleman	October 7, 1974	June 18, 1975
	Richard B. Beckett[60]	June 18, 1975	October 7, 1975
	Lorne Henderson	October 7, 1975	January 21, 1978
	René Brunelle	October 7, 1975	February 3, 1977
	Douglas Wiseman	January 21, 1978	August 30, 1979
	Alan Pope	August 30, 1979	April 10, 1981
	Bud Gregory	August 29, 1979	July 6, 1983
	Norm Sterling[61]	April 10, 1981	February 13, 1982
	Bruce McCaffrey	April 10, 1981	February 13, 1982
	Gordon Dean[62]	July 6, 1983	December 23, 1983
	Robert G. Eaton	February 13, 1982	February 5, 1985
Provincial Secretary and Ministry of Citizenship[s]	John Yaremko[63]	March 1, 1971	April 7, 1972
Provincial Secretary for Justice	Allan Lawrence	January 5, 1972	September 28, 1972
	George Kerr	September 28, 1972	February 26, 1974
	Bob Welch	February 26, 1974	June 18, 1975
	John Clement	June 18, 1975	October 7, 1975
	John MacBeth	October 7, 1975	January 21, 1978
	George Kerr	January 21, 1978	August 18, 1978
	Bob Welch	August 18, 1978	August 30, 1979
	Gordon Walker	August 30, 1979	February 13, 1982
	Norman Sterling	February 13, 1982	December 23, 1983
	Gordon Walker	December 23, 1983	February 8, 1985
Provincial Secretary for Resource Development	Bert Lawrence	January 5, 1972	February 26, 1974
	Allan Grossman	February 26, 1974	October 7, 1975
	Donald Irvine	October 7, 1975	February 3, 1977
	René Brunelle	February 3, 1977	April 10, 1981
	Russ Ramsay	April 10, 1981	February 13, 1982
	Lorne Henderson	February 13, 1982	July 6, 1983
	Norm Sterling	July 6, 1983	February 8, 1985
Provincial Secretary for Social Development	Bob Welch	January 5, 1972	February 26, 1974
	Margaret Birch[64]	February 26, 1974	July 6, 1983
	Bruce McCaffrey	July 6, 1983	December 23, 1983
	Gordon Dean	December 23, 1983	February 8, 1985
Solicitor General[t]	John Yaremko	April 7, 1972	February 26, 1974
	George Kerr	February 26, 1974	June 18, 1975
	John Clement	June 18, 1975	October 7, 1975
	John MacBeth	October 7, 1975	January 21, 1978
	George Kerr	January 21, 1978	September 11, 1978
	Roy McMurtry	September 11, 1978	February 13, 1982
	George William Taylor	February 13, 1982	June 26, 1985

Notes

1. created February 2, 1972.
2. as "Chair of the Treasury Board."
3. named "Minister of Justice and Attorney General" from March 1, 1971 to April 7, 1972.
4. created January 14, 1975 as "Ministry of Culture and Recreation;" renamed "Ministry of Citizenship and Culture" February 13, 1982.
5. named "Ministry of University Affairs" from March 1, 1971 to October 28, 1971.
6. named "Ministry of Social and Family Services" from March 1, 1971 to April 10, 1972.
7. named "Ministry of Financial and Commercial Affairs" from March 1, 1971 to April 10, 1972.
8. named "Ministry of Energy and Resources Management from March 1, 1971 to July 23, 1971.
9. "Energy" mandate largely transferred to existing "Ministry of Mines and Northern Affairs;" "Resource Management" mandate largely transferred to newly created "Ministry of Environment".
10. created July 23, 1971.
11. named "Treasurer and Minister of Economics and Intergovernmental Affairs from April 7, 1972 to August 18, 1978.
12. named "Ministry of Public Works" until April 7, 1972.
13. named "Ministry of Trade and Development" from March 1, 1971 to April 7, 1972; named "Ministry of Industry and Tourism" from April 7, 1972 to February 13, 1982.
14. created November 7, 1973.
15. only "Minister of Lands and Forests from March 1, 1971 to April 7, 1972.
16. named "Ministry of Mines and Northern Affairs" from March 1, 1971 to 1972; then I think it merges with Natural Resources till 1977; then it is Mines and Northern Affairs 1977-1985
17. named "Ministry of Tourism and Information" from March 1, 1971 to April 7, 1972.
18. concurrently "Ministry of Highways" and "Minister of Transport" from March 1, 1971 to May 28, 1971.
19. eliminated 1972. There will be no portfolio with a "Citizenship" mandate again until 1982
20. Looks like Davis briefly discontinued the position of SG till 7 April 1972.