{{Other people}}
{{Original research|date=June 2009}}
{{Infobox premier
| image = Mike Harris 2014.jpg
| order1 = [[List of premiers of Ontario|22nd Premier of Ontario]]
| term_start1 = June 26, 1995
| term_end1 = April 14, 2002
| monarch1 = [[Elizabeth II]]
| lieutenant_governor1 = [[Hal Jackman]] [[Hilary Weston]] [[James Bartleman]]
| primeminister1 = [[Jean Chrétien]]
| predecessor1 = [[Bob Rae]]
| successor1 = [[Ernie Eves]]
| office2 = [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Ontario MPP]]
| term_start2 = March 19, 1981
| term_end2 = April 14, 2002
| predecessor2 = [[Mike Bolan]]
| successor2 = [[Al McDonald]]
| constituency2 = [[Nipissing (provincial electoral district)|Nipissing]]
| birthname = Michael Deane Harris
| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1945|1|23}} }}
| birth_place = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada
| residence =
| party = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]]
}}
'''Michael Deane "Mike" Harris''' (born January 23, 1945) was the [[List of premiers of Ontario|22nd]] [[Premier of Ontario]] from June 26, 1995 to April 14, 2002. He is most noted for the "[[Common Sense Revolution]]", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government spending.

==Background==
Harris was born in [[Toronto]], Ontario, the son of Hope Gooding (née Robinson) and Sidney Deane Harris.<ref>{{cite book |title=Michael Deane Harris |last=Hillmer |first=Norman |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/michael-deane-harris/ |date=February 18, 2008 |publisher=Historica Canada}}</ref> He grew up in [[North Bay, Ontario|North Bay]], where his father operated the Wasi Falls Resort fishing camp. Harris attended Waterloo Lutheran University (now [[Wilfrid Laurier University]]) but left after a year.

At the age of 21, following his father's purchase of a ski-hill, Harris moved to [[Sainte-Adèle, Quebec]] where he became a ski instructor over the course of two years. After the end of his first marriage, he enrolled at [[Laurentian University]] and [[North Bay Teacher's College]] where he received his teaching certificate. He was employed as an elementary school teacher at W. J. Fricker Public School in North Bay where he taught grade seven and eight mathematics for several years in a new open-concept class of 120 students. He continued in his previous occupation as a ski-instructor at Nipissing Ridge on weekends as well as working at his father's fishing camp during the summer season. He eventually left the teaching profession as the success of the ski resort escalated. After his father sold his own ski-hill operation, Harris was hired to manage North Bay's Pinewood Golf Club.<ref>{{cite web |first=Marci |last=Mcdonald |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/michael-deane-harris-profile/ |title=Harris, Michael Deane Profile, Maclean's Magazine |publisher=Thecanadianencyclopedia.com |date=1995-06-19 |accessdate=2016-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Diane Lois|last= Way |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/255925/Mike-Harris |title=Mike Harris, Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Britannica.com |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref>

==Early political career==
Harris was elected to public office as a school board trustee in 1974. He entered provincial politics in the [[Ontario general election, 1981|1981 election]], and defeated the incumbent [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Member of Provincial Parliament]] (MPP) in [[Nipissing (provincial electoral district)|Nipissing]], [[Mike Bolan]].<ref name="1981 Election Results">{{cite news|author=Canadian Press |title=Winds of change, sea of security |newspaper=The Windsor Star |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0NtYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QlIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1444%2C1388326 |date=March 20, 1981 |location=Windsor, Ontario |page=22}}</ref> Harris later suggested that he was motivated to enter politics by an opposition to the policies of [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Pierre Trudeau]].<ref>Stevenson, Mark. "Right in the heartland". ''Saturday Night'' (May 1995), Vol. 110 Issue 4, pp. 19–25</ref>

He sat as a [[backbencher]] in [[Bill Davis]]'s [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] government from 1981 to 1985. He supported [[Frank Miller (politician)|Frank Miller]]'s successful bid to succeed Davis as party leader in 1985, and took the role of rival candidate [[Dennis Timbrell]] to prepare Miller for the party's all-candidate debates. Miller was sworn in as [[Premier of Ontario]] on February 8, 1985, and appointed Harris as his [[Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)|Minister of Natural Resources]].<ref name="1985FebMillerCab">{{cite news |title=The Ontario Cabinet |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=February 9, 1985 |page=4}}</ref>

The Tories were reduced to a [[minority government]] in the [[Ontario general election, 1985|1985 provincial election]], although Harris was personally re-elected without difficulty.<ref name="1985 Election Results">{{cite news |title=Results of vote in Ontario election |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=May 3, 1985 |page=13}}</ref> He kept the Natural Resources portfolio after the election, and was also named [[Ministry of Energy (Ontario)|Minister of Energy]] on May 17, 1985.<ref name="1985MayMillerCab">{{cite news |title=The new Cabinet |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=May 18, 1985 |page=11}}</ref> Time limitations prevented Harris from making many notable contributions in these portfolios, as the Miller government was soon defeated on a [[motion of no confidence]] by [[David Peterson]]'s [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberals]] and [[Bob Rae]]'s [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

An agreement between the Liberals and the NDP allowed a Liberal minority government to govern for two years in exchange for the implementation of certain NDP policies. This decision consigned the Tories to opposition for the first time in 42 years. Miller resigned and was replaced by [[Larry Grossman (politician)|Larry Grossman]], who led the party to a disastrous showing in the [[Ontario general election, 1987|1987 election]] and announced his resignation shortly thereafter. Harris was again re-elected in Nipissing without difficulty.<ref name="1987 Election Results">{{cite news |title=Results from individual ridings |newspaper=The Windsor Star |date=September 11, 1987 |page=F2}}</ref>

==Leadership (1990)==
The party was not ready to hold a [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership elections|leadership convention]] in 1987. Grossman, who had lost his legislative seat, remained the official leader of the party until 1990 while Sarnia MPP [[Andy Brandt]] served as "interim leader" in the legislature. Harris was chosen as PC house leader, and had become the party's dominant voice in the legislature by 1989. Harris entered the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election, 1990|1990 leadership race]], and defeated [[Dianne Cunningham]] in a province-wide vote to replace Grossman as the party's official leader.

==Political Wilderness (1990–1995)==
The [[Ontario general election, 1990|1990 provincial election]] was called soon after Harris became party leader. With help from past leader [[Larry Grossman (politician)|Larry Grossman]], Harris managed to rally his party's core supporters with pledges of tax cuts and spending reductions. Due to his teaching background, Harris was personally endorsed by several local members of the [[Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation]] (OSSTF). The election was won by [[Bob Rae]]'s [[New Democratic Party|NDP]]. The Conservatives increased their seat total from 17 to 20 out of 130. Despite some early concerns, Harris was again able to retain his own seat. On 3 May 1994, Harris unveiled his "[[Common Sense Revolution]]" platform. It called for significant spending and tax cuts, as well as elimination of the province's record $11 billion deficit.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

==First term as Premier of Ontario (1995–1999)==
By 1995, the governing [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]] and incumbent Premier Bob Rae had become extremely unpopular with the electorate, partly due to the state of the Ontario economy and its record debt and deficit amidst a Canada-wide recession. [[Lyn McLeod]]'s Liberals were leading in pre-election polls and were expected to benefit from the swing in support away from the NDP, but they began losing support due to several controversial policy reversals and what was generally regarded as an uninspiring campaign. The turning point in the election is often considered to be Harris' performance in the televised leaders' debate. Harris used his camera time to speak directly to the camera to convey his party's [[Common Sense Revolution]] platform. He was elected with a large majority government in the [[Ontario general election, 1995|1995 election]]. Roughly half of his party's seats came from the suburban belt surrounding Metro Toronto, often called the '905' for its telephone area code.<ref name="logospathosethos.com">{{cite web|url=http://logospathosethos.com/articles/2011/2/17/mismanaging-during-storms-the-harris-eves-and-hudak-conserva.html |title=News & Opinions - Mismanaging During Storms: The Harris, Eves and Hudak Conservatives in Ontario |publisher=Logos Pathos Ethos |date=2011-02-17 |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref>

The Rae government had previously lost much of its base in organized labour, due in part to the unpopularity of its "[[Social Contract (Ontario)|Social Contract]]" legislation in 1993 (which Harris, after some initial vacillations, eventually voted against). Harris' opposition to Rae's [[affirmative action]] measures helped him to capture some unionized-worker support during the election, particularly among male workers. Although there were regional variations, many union voters shifted from the NDP to the Tories in 1995 (instead of to the Liberals as expected pre-campaign), enabling the Tories to win a number of new ridings, such as [[Cambridge (provincial electoral district)|Cambridge]] and [[Oshawa (provincial electoral district)|Oshawa]], which had long supported the NDP.<ref>Mallan, Caroline. "The legacy of Mike Harris". ''Toronto Star'', March 16, 2002, H02.</ref>

In late 1995, members of the Stoney Point [[Ojibwe|Ojibway]] band occupied [[Ipperwash Provincial Park]] outside of [[Grand Bend, Ontario|Grand Bend]], protesting a [[Ipperwash crisis|protracted land claims process]]. During a confrontation, [[Ontario Provincial Police]] acting Sgt. Kenneth Deane fired on the demonstrators killing a protester named [[Dudley George]]. An inquest (reported below) would later be called by the Liberal government of [[Dalton McGuinty]], due to recalcitrance on Harris' part.

The Harris government also passed The Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act in 1996, publishing so-called [[Sunshine list]]s annually to disclose wages and benefits of high-paid public employees in the name of accountability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/publications/salarydisclosure/pssd/ |title=Public Sector Salary Disclosure |website=Fin.gov.on.ca |date=2016-04-06 |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref>

===Common Sense Revolution===
{{main|Common Sense Revolution}}
Upon election, the Harris government immediately began to implement a far-reaching reform agenda in order to cut the large provincial deficit accumulated under the previous Rae government. One of its first major policy decisions in 1995 was to cut social assistance rates by 22%. The government argued that too many people were taking advantage of the program, and that it acted as a disincentive for seeking employment. The government also introduced "Ontario Works," frequently referred to as "[[workfare]]," a program that required able-bodied welfare recipients to participate in either training or job placements.

Provincial income taxes were cut by 30% to pre-1990 levels. In addition, a new Fair Share Health Levy was established and charged to high-income earners to help pay for mounting health care costs.

Shortly after assuming office, the Harris government announced that several hundred nurses would be laid off to cut costs in the health sector. The government also implemented a series of hospital closures on the recommendations of a Health Services Restructuring Commission. Harris compared the laid off hospital workers to the people who lost their jobs after the [[hula hoop]] fad died down in the early 1960s, commenting "Just as Hula-Hoops went out and those workers had to have a factory and a company that would manufacture something else that's in, it's the same in government, and you know, governments have put off these decisions for so many years that restructuring sometimes is painful" (''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', 6 March 1997).

The Harris government cut funding of major urban infrastructure projects upon assuming office. Though construction had already begun on the [[Eglinton West line|Eglinton West subway]] in Toronto, a proposed rapid transit line to ultimately link the main north/south subway line of the city with the suburbs and airport, funding was cancelled shortly after Harris' election.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transit.toronto.on.ca/subway/5112.shtml |title=The Eglinton West Subway - Transit Toronto - Content |publisher=Transit Toronto |date=2011-06-26 |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref>

Harris's government also cut health spending to counter the $30 billion cut in transfer payments from the Liberal federal government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cupe.ca/health-care/BE4555 |title=Health Care | Canadian Union of Public Employees |website=Cupe.ca |date= |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref> It also introduced Telehealth Ontario, a new 24-hour toll-free telephone help line with live connection to registered nurses. Harris also announced funding vehicles such as the Ontario R&D Challenge Fund, the Ontario Innovation Trust and the Premier's Research Excellence Awards.

One part of the Common Sense Revolution was to sell off various government-owned enterprises, the largest of which were to be [[Ontario Hydro]] and the [[Liquor Control Board of Ontario]]. Neither was actually sold off, but Ontario Hydro was split into five successor companies (the two largest being [[Ontario Power Generation]] and [[Hydro One]], representing generation and distribution of power respectively) with the plan of eventually selling them off. Public opposition to the sale of these money-making government enterprises postponed the government's plans. In 1999, [[Ontario Highway 407|Highway 407]] was leased to a private consortium.<ref name="logospathosethos.com"/>

The provincial government of Mike Harris undertook an extensive program of municipal mergers between 1996 and 2002. The province had 815 municipalities in 1996; by 2002, this had been reduced to just 447.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/maps/currentrestructure.aspx |title=Archived copy |accessdate=January 11, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105084333/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/maps/currentrestructure.aspx |archivedate=November 5, 2012 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/maps/sources.aspx |title=The Changing Shape of Ontario: Sources |website=Archives.gov.on.ca |date= |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref> In the largest and most widely covered of these moves, the individual cities that made up [[Metropolitan Toronto|Metro Toronto]] were merged into a single city (called the "[[merger (politics)#Canada|megacity]]" by the media and citizens); the amalgamation was not part of their pre-election policy platform. The Conservatives argued that the move would eliminate duplication of services and increase efficiency, however while the amalgamation produced substantial dislocation in the delivery of civic services, in the decade since the amalgamation of Toronto no quantitative evidence of cost-savings has been produced. Opposition parties were strongly opposed to the move; the NDP took the unusual step of attempting to [[Filibuster#Provincial|filibuster against the bill]] by reading out the name of every street name in Toronto. In order to further reduce provincial commitments, financial responsibility for provincial income assistance programs were transferred or "[http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/blog/hefty_housing_costs_stay_local_in__good_news__bad_news__provincial_funding_deal/ downloaded]" to municipalities, increasing the burden on municipal tax bases. The [[list of municipalities in Ontario]] is updated to the ''Municipal Act, 2001'', which is the legislation that enables incorporation and stipulates governance of Ontario's municipalities, excluding the City of [[Toronto]], which is now subject to the ''City of Toronto Act, 2006''.<ref>{{cite web | title=City of Toronto Act, 2006 | url=http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_06c11_e.htm | work=e-Laws | publisher=[[Government of Ontario]] | accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref> The ''Municipal Act, 2001'' provides lower and single-tier municipalities with the authority to incorporate as [[city|cities]], [[town]]s, [[village]]s, [[township]]s, or generically as municipalities.<ref name=guide>{{cite web |url=http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=4965 |title=The Municipal Councillor's Guide |publisher=[[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing]] |format=PDF |accessdate=June 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AMO>{{cite web |url=http://www.amo.on.ca/AMO-Content/Municipal-101/Ontario-Municipalities.aspx |title=Ontario Municipalities |publisher=[[Association of Municipalities of Ontario]] |accessdate=June 25, 2013}}</ref> A 2015 review of the amalgamation policy states plainly that it failed to deliver the cost savings and efficiencies promised by the architects of The Common Sense Revolution, and concludes that the rushed municipal marriages triggered increased local government costs, higher property taxes and deeper debt loads: "There were huge increases in costs — it really wasn’t well thought out."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/toronto/there-were-huge-increases-in-costs-it-really-wasnt-well-thought-out-study-slams-forced-city-mergers |title=‘There were huge increases in costs — it really wasn’t well thought out,’ study slams forced city mergers | National Post |website=News.nationalpost.com |date= |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref>

The Ontario provincial debt increased by an additional $20 Billion between 1995 and 1999. <ref name="logospathosethos.com"/>

===Education===

The Harris government introduced several education reforms. The fifth year of high school in Ontario, (known as the [[Ontario Academic Credit|OAC]] year), was eliminated. This created a double graduating class in 2003 (known as the "[[double cohort]]"). Harris mandated a standardized curriculum and province-wide testing of students, which included Grade 3 and 6 EQAO testing, as well as a Grade 10 Literacy test. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.torontosun.com/2015/06/26/mike-harris-where-did-common-sense-go |title=Mike Harris: Where did common sense go? |author=Christiana Blizzard |date=26 June 2015}}</ref> In 1999, it introduced a policy of "teacher testing", requiring teachers to take examinations on a regular basis.

==Second term as Premier of Ontario (1999–2002)==
In 1999, the Harris government was re-elected for a second term as a majority government, helped largely by its political base in the 905 area. In 1999 Harris also announced a program called [[Ontario's Living Legacy]]. The initiative added 378 new parks and protected areas, bringing the total in Ontario to 650 and increasing Ontario's protected areas to more than {{convert|95000 |km2}}.

Controversy arose in 2000 when the town water supply of [[Walkerton, Ontario|Walkerton]] became infected by [[Escherichia coli|E. coli]]. Seven people died and hundreds became ill. Provincial water testing had been [[Privatization|privatized]] in October 1996 by Harris' first government.<ref name="Walkerton-part-2">[http://www.sourcewater.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=2&Sub1=2&sub2=0] {{dead link|date=April 2016}}</ref> It was later discovered the local official responsible for water quality, [[Stan Koebel]], had lied, falsified records, failed to test water quality regularly, and when the outbreak occurred had failed to promptly notify the local Medical Officer of Health. In late 2004, Koebel pleaded guilty to a minor charge in relation to the offence and was sentenced to one year in jail.

The [[Walkerton Tragedy|Walkerton tragedy]] had serious ramifications for Harris's government. [[David Peterson]] later acknowledged that it could have happened under any Premier's watch{{citation needed|reason=this is denied by Peterson via email|date=November 2015}}, and it was often noted that Koebel's lying and falsification of records had gone unnoticed by governments of different political stripes. Harris's handling of the tragedy was also criticized, as he initially attempted to place some of the blame on previous Liberal and NDP governments. Harris called a public inquiry, headed by [[Dennis O'Connor (judge)|Justice Dennis O'Connor]], which later noted that in addition to Stan Koebel's failure to properly monitor and treat the water supply, deregulation of water quality testing and cuts to the Ministry of the Environment were contributing factors.<ref name="CBCIndepthWalkerton" /> The inquest into the tragedy found that the government cuts to inspection services and their privatisation had created a situation in which future water safety could not be guaranteed. The Ontario government was also blamed for not regulating water quality and not enforcing the guidelines that had been in place.<ref name="Walkerton-part-2"/>

A riot developed at [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]], the site of the Ontario Legislature, on 15 June 2000. The [[Ontario Coalition Against Poverty]] and other activists who included [[George Smitherman]], lobbed molotov cocktails, bricks, and bottles.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/06/15/000615riot.html |title=Riot at Queen's Park |work=CBC News |date=2000-06-15 |accessdate=2014-06-18}}</ref> No convictions resulted from several attempts to try individuals for substantial crimes.

The Harris government balanced the provincial budget in 2001. Harris supporters pointed to the fact that government revenues rose from $48 billion in 1995 to $64 billion by 2001, when the budget was balanced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2001/edoc_comp.pdf |title=2001 Ontario Budget: Budget Papers |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528202051/http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2001/edoc_comp.pdf |archivedate=2008-05-28 |df= }}</ref> Harris' government reduced Ontario welfare rolls by 500,000 people; critics contend these cuts led to a rise in homelessness and poverty. Supporters argued that high welfare rates had created disincentives to find entry-level jobs, and that poverty levels remained relatively unchanged between 1995 and 2005. Employment rates increased significantly during the late 1990s. The government rewrote labour laws to require secret ballot votes before workplaces could unionize. The previous NDP government's law outlawing the hiring of replacement workers during strikes was repealed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

Other changes brought in by the Harris government include standardized student tests. These were criticized by some educators as forcing schools to teach in a manner simply oriented to test-passing, and not teach in a way to encourage genuine learning. Others valued the tests as a means for parents to measure their children's achievement and that of the school against peers. A new provincial funding formula for school boards stripped the local boards of their taxation powers.

In 2001, the Harris government introduced a plan to give a tax credit for parents who send their children to private and denominational schools (despite having campaigned against such an initiative in 1999). Supporters claimed it was fair given the public funding of Catholic schools,{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} while opponents were concerned about a potential diversion of resources and students from the public system. Harris also broke with tradition to place [[backbencher|backbench]] MPPs on Cabinet committees. He appointed more women as deputy ministers than any other premier in Ontario history, including the only two women to head the Ontario public service.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

==Withdrawal from politics (2002–2004)==
For personal reasons Harris resigned in 2002 and was succeeded as Tory leader and premier by his long-time friend and Minister of Finance, [[Ernie Eves]].

Soon after leaving office, Harris joined the Toronto law firm [[Goodmans|Goodmans LLP]], where he served as an advisor until 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2013/09/16/mike-harris-to-join-fasken-martineau/ |title=Mike Harris to join Fasken Martineau | Financial Post |website=Business.financialpost.com |date= |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref>

Later in 2002, Harris also joined the [[Fraser Institute]], a right-of-centre<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2001/06/28/taxfreedom_010628.html |title=CBC News.ca |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=2001-06-29 |accessdate=2011-07-26 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604220409/http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2001/06/28/taxfreedom_010628.html |archivedate=June 4, 2009 }}</ref> [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] [[think tank]], as a 'Senior Fellow'. It was there that he became involved with the ideals of [[Preston Manning]], becoming a major influence in federal politics as well as Alberta. His Common Sense Revolution was repeated in Alberta with each of the steps including the firing and rehiring of nurses. In January 2003, Harris was named to the Board of Directors of [[Magna International]]. More recently in 2011, he was criticized for accepting re-election to the Board of Magna despite receiving only 38% of shareholder support. This was possible since shareholder votes in Canada are either counted as "for" a director or else considered as "withheld", meaning that they are not counted.<ref>{{cite web|first=Janet|last=McFarland|url=http://www.globeadvisor.com/servlet/ArticleNews/story/gam/20111208/RBMAGNAVOTEMCFARLANDATL|title=Barely one in three backed Harris for Magna chair|work=The Globe and Mail|date=December 8, 2011|accessdate=2016-02-08}}</ref> In 2012, Harris indicated that he would step down from the Board of Directors at [[Magna International]] after completing a process to collapse the company's dual-class share structure that he helped begin in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2012/03/30/mike-harris-steps-down-from-magna-board/ |title=Mike Harris steps down from Magna Board |work=Financial Post |date=2012-03-30 |accessdate=2013-11-09}}</ref>

During his time as Premier, Harris was frequently cited as someone who could "unite the right" in Canada, and lead a merged party of federal [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservatives]] and [[Reform Party of Canada|Reform]]/[[Canadian Alliance]] supporters. He made serious steps toward a career in federal politics after stepping down as Premier, weighing in on issues such as the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] (which he supported) and the value of the [[Canadian dollar]] (which he wanted to see increase in relation to the American dollar). In late 2003, he made a speech in [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]] which many believed was the unofficial launch of a campaign to lead the new [[Conservative Party of Canada]]. In the end, Harris decided to stand aside; he later endorsed former Magna International President and CEO [[Belinda Stronach]], in the [[Conservative Party of Canada leadership election, 2004|2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election]].

He was later involved in a minor controversy, yelling and repeatedly swearing at a party official who asked him for his identification as he voted in the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election, 2004|2004 Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leadership election]].<ref>Canadian Press. "Harris apologizes for swearing at Tories." ''Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal'', September 23, 2004.</ref>

==Ipperwash Inquest (2005–2007)==
{{main|Ipperwash Crisis}}
Shortly after his first election win in 1995, Mike Harris faced his first crisis as Premier. Protesters fighting land claim issues took over a Provincial Park 150 km South West of Toronto. During a confrontation with the demonstrators, [[Ontario Provincial Police]] acting Sgt. Kenneth Deane fired on [[First Nations]] demonstrators who had occupied the park, killing a protester named [[Dudley George]]. In the inquiry following the shooting, it was determined that while some protesters were carrying rocks, sticks and baseball bats, none were carrying firearms. The confrontation that led to the shooting began when police clashed with a protester armed with a steel pipe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/inquiries/ipperwash/report/vol_1/pdf/E_Vol_1_Conclusion.pdf |title=Ipperwash Inquiry, Investigation and Findings, Volume 1 - Conclusion. P681 |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref> The government and the OPP maintained that there was no political involvement in the shooting, but inside the Legislature where [[Parliamentary privilege]] outweighs any civil claims, several opposition politicians suggested that the attack may have been ordered by the Premier's office, and called for an independent judicial inquiry. In a court case that went all the way the [[Supreme Court of Canada]], Deane maintained that he was not under orders to shoot and was convicted of criminal negligence causing death. An inquiry, headed by commissioner Justice [[Sidney Linden]], was called after the government of [[Dalton McGuinty]] was elected in 2003.

On November 28, 2005, former [[Attorney General of Ontario|Attorney General]] [[Charles Harnick]] testified before the inquiry that Harris had shouted "I want the fucking Indians out of the park" at a meeting with Ontario Provincial Police officer Ron Fox, hours before the shooting occurred (''Canadian Press'', 28 November 2005, 12:45 report). Other witnesses have disputed this account, and Harris himself denied it in his testimony on 14 February 2006 at the inquiry.

The inquiry released its report on May 31, 2007. It concluded that Harris did not bear responsibility for the outcome at Ipperwash:
<blockquote>
The evidence demonstrated that the Premier and his officials wanted the occupation to end quickly, but there is no evidence to suggest that the Premier or any official in his government was responsible for Mr. George's death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipperwashinquiry.ca/report/vol_1/pdf/E_Vol_1_Conclusion.pdf |title=Ipperwash Inquiry, Investigation and Findings, Volume 1 - Conclusion. P675 |publisher=Ipperwashinquiry.ca |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref>
</blockquote>
However, the report also stated that both the provincial and federal levels of government, as well as the Ontario Provincial Police shared responsibility for the events at Ipperwash. The report found that while Harris did not order the police to remove protesters from the park, his approach "narrowed the scope" of the response to the situation:
<blockquote>
The Premier's determination to seek a quick resolution closed off many options endorsed by civil servants in the Ontario government, including process negotiations, the appointment of mediators, and opening up communication with the First Nations people. His narrow approach to the occupation did not enable the situation to stabilize at the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipperwashinquiry.com/report/vol_4/pdf/E_Vol_4_Summary_1.pdf |title=Ipperwash Enquiry, Investigation and Findings, Volume 1 - Executive Summary, pp. 49–50 |publisher=Ipperwashinquiry.com |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229172020/http://www.ipperwashinquiry.com/report/vol_4/pdf/E_Vol_4_Summary_1.pdf |archivedate=2008-02-29 |df= }}</ref>
</blockquote>

The Inquiry found that Harris did say "I want the fucking Indians out of the park," despite his denials to that effect. This finding was based on not being able to find an existing animosity from Charles Harnick towards Mike Harris and the fact that Harnick was reversing previous statements that he had made in the legislature which would not be of any benefit to himself.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ipperwash-inquiry-spreads-blame-for-george-s-death-1.666937 |title=Ipperwash inquiry spreads blame for George's death |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=2007-05-31 |accessdate=2014-06-18}}</ref>

==Later life==
In late May 2010, [[Nipissing University]] confirmed that Harris would receive an honorary doctorate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nipissingu.ca/news/view.asp?ID=20061234 |title=Recent News |publisher=Nipissingu.ca |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref> In response, the [[Ontario Teachers' Federation]] threatened to discourage, or even prevent, their members from acting as associate teachers for students in Nipissing University's Bachelor of Education program, which requires students to complete 12 weeks of practice teaching in a classroom.<ref>[http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/University+stands+honorary+degree+given+Mike+Harris/3133787/story.html ]{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref> Nipissing University's $25 million Harris Learning Library, which opened in 2011, is named after the former premier.

In 2012, Mike Harris started a local Nurse Next Door Home Care franchise in Toronto with wife Laura.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nurse Next Door |url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1065359/from-premier-s-office-to-flower-covered-pink-car |title=From Premier's Office to Flower Covered Pink Car |website=Newswire.ca |date=2012-11-06 |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref>

In May 2014, Mike Harris co-led an independent Canadian mission to observe the Ukrainian presidential election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mike-harris-leading-ukraine-election-observer-mission-1.2648626 |title=Mike Harris leading Ukraine election observer mission - Politics - CBC News |website=Cbc.ca |date= |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Common Sense Revolution]]
* [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]]
* [[Ipperwash Crisis]]
* [[Walkerton tragedy]]
* ''[[Life Under Mike]]'' - A documentary about the overall effects of the Common Sense Revolution produced by filmmaker [[James Motluk]] and released in September, 2000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://contests.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_09.28.00/film/lifeundermike.php |title=Archived copy |accessdate=September 28, 2000 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062842/http://contests.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_09.28.00/film/lifeundermike.php |archivedate=February 22, 2014 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="CBCIndepthWalkerton">{{cite news
|url = http://www.cbc.ca/news2/background/walkerton/
|title = INDEPTH: INSIDE WALKERTON Canada's worst-ever E. coli contamination
|publisher = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
|date = 2004-12-20
|accessdate = 2014-06-18}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Ontario MPP biography|ID=44}}
* [http://ao.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/ARCH_DESCRIPTIVE/DESCRIPTION_DET_REP/SISN%2011317?SESSIONSEARCH Michael D. Harris fonds], Archives of Ontario
{{s-start}}
{{Canadian cabinet member navigational box header |ministry=Frank_Miller}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post2preceded = [[George Ashe (Canadian politician)|George Ashe]]
| post2 = [[Ministry of Energy (Ontario)|Minister of Energy]]
| post2years = 1985 (May–June)
| post2note =
| post2followed = [[Vince Kerrio]]

| post1preceded = [[Alan Pope]]
| post1 = [[Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)|Minister of Natural Resources]]
| post1years = 1985 (February–June)
| post1note =
| post1followed = [[Vince Kerrio]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Ontpremier}}
{{Ontario PC Leaders}}
{{Harris Ministry}}
{{Miller Ministry}}
{{Magna International}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Mike}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:Laurentian University alumni]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of Ontario]]
[[Category:Nipissing University alumni]]
[[Category:People from North Bay, Ontario]]
[[Category:Politicians from Toronto]]
[[Category:Premiers of Ontario]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian politicians]]

Mike Harris

2017-04-30T21:18:37Z

LineCoding: /* Common Sense Revolution */ Moved into to new Education section

{{Other people}}
{{Original research|date=June 2009}}
{{Infobox premier
| image = Mike Harris 2014.jpg
| order1 = [[List of premiers of Ontario|22nd Premier of Ontario]]
| term_start1 = June 26, 1995
| term_end1 = April 14, 2002
| monarch1 = [[Elizabeth II]]
| lieutenant_governor1 = [[Hal Jackman]] [[Hilary Weston]] [[James Bartleman]]
| primeminister1 = [[Jean Chrétien]]
| predecessor1 = [[Bob Rae]]
| successor1 = [[Ernie Eves]]
| office2 = [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Ontario MPP]]
| term_start2 = March 19, 1981
| term_end2 = April 14, 2002
| predecessor2 = [[Mike Bolan]]
| successor2 = [[Al McDonald]]
| constituency2 = [[Nipissing (provincial electoral district)|Nipissing]]
| birthname = Michael Deane Harris
| birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1945|1|23}} }}
| birth_place = [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada
| residence =
| party = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]]
}}
'''Michael Deane "Mike" Harris''' (born January 23, 1945) was the [[List of premiers of Ontario|22nd]] [[Premier of Ontario]] from June 26, 1995 to April 14, 2002. He is most noted for the "[[Common Sense Revolution]]", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government spending.

==Background==
Harris was born in [[Toronto]], Ontario, the son of Hope Gooding (née Robinson) and Sidney Deane Harris.<ref>{{cite book |title=Michael Deane Harris |last=Hillmer |first=Norman |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/michael-deane-harris/ |date=February 18, 2008 |publisher=Historica Canada}}</ref> He grew up in [[North Bay, Ontario|North Bay]], where his father operated the Wasi Falls Resort fishing camp. Harris attended Waterloo Lutheran University (now [[Wilfrid Laurier University]]) but left after a year.

At the age of 21, following his father's purchase of a ski-hill, Harris moved to [[Sainte-Adèle, Quebec]] where he became a ski instructor over the course of two years. After the end of his first marriage, he enrolled at [[Laurentian University]] and [[North Bay Teacher's College]] where he received his teaching certificate. He was employed as an elementary school teacher at W. J. Fricker Public School in North Bay where he taught grade seven and eight mathematics for several years in a new open-concept class of 120 students. He continued in his previous occupation as a ski-instructor at Nipissing Ridge on weekends as well as working at his father's fishing camp during the summer season. He eventually left the teaching profession as the success of the ski resort escalated. After his father sold his own ski-hill operation, Harris was hired to manage North Bay's Pinewood Golf Club.<ref>{{cite web |first=Marci |last=Mcdonald |url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/michael-deane-harris-profile/ |title=Harris, Michael Deane Profile, Maclean's Magazine |publisher=Thecanadianencyclopedia.com |date=1995-06-19 |accessdate=2016-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Diane Lois|last= Way |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/255925/Mike-Harris |title=Mike Harris, Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Britannica.com |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref>

==Early political career==
Harris was elected to public office as a school board trustee in 1974. He entered provincial politics in the [[Ontario general election, 1981|1981 election]], and defeated the incumbent [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Member of Provincial Parliament]] (MPP) in [[Nipissing (provincial electoral district)|Nipissing]], [[Mike Bolan]].<ref name="1981 Election Results">{{cite news|author=Canadian Press |title=Winds of change, sea of security |newspaper=The Windsor Star |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0NtYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QlIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1444%2C1388326 |date=March 20, 1981 |location=Windsor, Ontario |page=22}}</ref> Harris later suggested that he was motivated to enter politics by an opposition to the policies of [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Pierre Trudeau]].<ref>Stevenson, Mark. "Right in the heartland". ''Saturday Night'' (May 1995), Vol. 110 Issue 4, pp. 19–25</ref>

He sat as a [[backbencher]] in [[Bill Davis]]'s [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] government from 1981 to 1985. He supported [[Frank Miller (politician)|Frank Miller]]'s successful bid to succeed Davis as party leader in 1985, and took the role of rival candidate [[Dennis Timbrell]] to prepare Miller for the party's all-candidate debates. Miller was sworn in as [[Premier of Ontario]] on February 8, 1985, and appointed Harris as his [[Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)|Minister of Natural Resources]].<ref name="1985FebMillerCab">{{cite news |title=The Ontario Cabinet |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=February 9, 1985 |page=4}}</ref>

The Tories were reduced to a [[minority government]] in the [[Ontario general election, 1985|1985 provincial election]], although Harris was personally re-elected without difficulty.<ref name="1985 Election Results">{{cite news |title=Results of vote in Ontario election |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=May 3, 1985 |page=13}}</ref> He kept the Natural Resources portfolio after the election, and was also named [[Ministry of Energy (Ontario)|Minister of Energy]] on May 17, 1985.<ref name="1985MayMillerCab">{{cite news |title=The new Cabinet |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=May 18, 1985 |page=11}}</ref> Time limitations prevented Harris from making many notable contributions in these portfolios, as the Miller government was soon defeated on a [[motion of no confidence]] by [[David Peterson]]'s [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberals]] and [[Bob Rae]]'s [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

An agreement between the Liberals and the NDP allowed a Liberal minority government to govern for two years in exchange for the implementation of certain NDP policies. This decision consigned the Tories to opposition for the first time in 42 years. Miller resigned and was replaced by [[Larry Grossman (politician)|Larry Grossman]], who led the party to a disastrous showing in the [[Ontario general election, 1987|1987 election]] and announced his resignation shortly thereafter. Harris was again re-elected in Nipissing without difficulty.<ref name="1987 Election Results">{{cite news |title=Results from individual ridings |newspaper=The Windsor Star |date=September 11, 1987 |page=F2}}</ref>

==Leadership (1990)==
The party was not ready to hold a [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership elections|leadership convention]] in 1987. Grossman, who had lost his legislative seat, remained the official leader of the party until 1990 while Sarnia MPP [[Andy Brandt]] served as "interim leader" in the legislature. Harris was chosen as PC house leader, and had become the party's dominant voice in the legislature by 1989. Harris entered the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election, 1990|1990 leadership race]], and defeated [[Dianne Cunningham]] in a province-wide vote to replace Grossman as the party's official leader.

==Political Wilderness (1990–1995)==
The [[Ontario general election, 1990|1990 provincial election]] was called soon after Harris became party leader. With help from past leader [[Larry Grossman (politician)|Larry Grossman]], Harris managed to rally his party's core supporters with pledges of tax cuts and spending reductions. Due to his teaching background, Harris was personally endorsed by several local members of the [[Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation]] (OSSTF). The election was won by [[Bob Rae]]'s [[New Democratic Party|NDP]]. The Conservatives increased their seat total from 17 to 20 out of 130. Despite some early concerns, Harris was again able to retain his own seat. On 3 May 1994, Harris unveiled his "[[Common Sense Revolution]]" platform. It called for significant spending and tax cuts, as well as elimination of the province's record $11 billion deficit.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

==First term as Premier of Ontario (1995–1999)==
By 1995, the governing [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]] and incumbent Premier Bob Rae had become extremely unpopular with the electorate, partly due to the state of the Ontario economy and its record debt and deficit amidst a Canada-wide recession. [[Lyn McLeod]]'s Liberals were leading in pre-election polls and were expected to benefit from the swing in support away from the NDP, but they began losing support due to several controversial policy reversals and what was generally regarded as an uninspiring campaign. The turning point in the election is often considered to be Harris' performance in the televised leaders' debate. Harris used his camera time to speak directly to the camera to convey his party's [[Common Sense Revolution]] platform. He was elected with a large majority government in the [[Ontario general election, 1995|1995 election]]. Roughly half of his party's seats came from the suburban belt surrounding Metro Toronto, often called the '905' for its telephone area code.<ref name="logospathosethos.com">{{cite web|url=http://logospathosethos.com/articles/2011/2/17/mismanaging-during-storms-the-harris-eves-and-hudak-conserva.html |title=News & Opinions - Mismanaging During Storms: The Harris, Eves and Hudak Conservatives in Ontario |publisher=Logos Pathos Ethos |date=2011-02-17 |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref>

The Rae government had previously lost much of its base in organized labour, due in part to the unpopularity of its "[[Social Contract (Ontario)|Social Contract]]" legislation in 1993 (which Harris, after some initial vacillations, eventually voted against). Harris' opposition to Rae's [[affirmative action]] measures helped him to capture some unionized-worker support during the election, particularly among male workers. Although there were regional variations, many union voters shifted from the NDP to the Tories in 1995 (instead of to the Liberals as expected pre-campaign), enabling the Tories to win a number of new ridings, such as [[Cambridge (provincial electoral district)|Cambridge]] and [[Oshawa (provincial electoral district)|Oshawa]], which had long supported the NDP.<ref>Mallan, Caroline. "The legacy of Mike Harris". ''Toronto Star'', March 16, 2002, H02.</ref>

In late 1995, members of the Stoney Point [[Ojibwe|Ojibway]] band occupied [[Ipperwash Provincial Park]] outside of [[Grand Bend, Ontario|Grand Bend]], protesting a [[Ipperwash crisis|protracted land claims process]]. During a confrontation, [[Ontario Provincial Police]] acting Sgt. Kenneth Deane fired on the demonstrators killing a protester named [[Dudley George]]. An inquest (reported below) would later be called by the Liberal government of [[Dalton McGuinty]], due to recalcitrance on Harris' part.

The Harris government also passed The Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act in 1996, publishing so-called [[Sunshine list]]s annually to disclose wages and benefits of high-paid public employees in the name of accountability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/publications/salarydisclosure/pssd/ |title=Public Sector Salary Disclosure |website=Fin.gov.on.ca |date=2016-04-06 |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref>

===Common Sense Revolution===
{{main|Common Sense Revolution}}
Upon election, the Harris government immediately began to implement a far-reaching reform agenda in order to cut the large provincial deficit accumulated under the previous Rae government. One of its first major policy decisions in 1995 was to cut social assistance rates by 22%. The government argued that too many people were taking advantage of the program, and that it acted as a disincentive for seeking employment. The government also introduced "Ontario Works," frequently referred to as "[[workfare]]," a program that required able-bodied welfare recipients to participate in either training or job placements.

Provincial income taxes were cut by 30% to pre-1990 levels. In addition, a new Fair Share Health Levy was established and charged to high-income earners to help pay for mounting health care costs.

Shortly after assuming office, the Harris government announced that several hundred nurses would be laid off to cut costs in the health sector. The government also implemented a series of hospital closures on the recommendations of a Health Services Restructuring Commission. Harris compared the laid off hospital workers to the people who lost their jobs after the [[hula hoop]] fad died down in the early 1960s, commenting "Just as Hula-Hoops went out and those workers had to have a factory and a company that would manufacture something else that's in, it's the same in government, and you know, governments have put off these decisions for so many years that restructuring sometimes is painful" (''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', 6 March 1997).

The Harris government cut funding of major urban infrastructure projects upon assuming office. Though construction had already begun on the [[Eglinton West line|Eglinton West subway]] in Toronto, a proposed rapid transit line to ultimately link the main north/south subway line of the city with the suburbs and airport, funding was cancelled shortly after Harris' election.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transit.toronto.on.ca/subway/5112.shtml |title=The Eglinton West Subway - Transit Toronto - Content |publisher=Transit Toronto |date=2011-06-26 |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref>

Harris's government also cut health spending to counter the $30 billion cut in transfer payments from the Liberal federal government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cupe.ca/health-care/BE4555 |title=Health Care | Canadian Union of Public Employees |website=Cupe.ca |date= |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref> It also introduced Telehealth Ontario, a new 24-hour toll-free telephone help line with live connection to registered nurses. Harris also announced funding vehicles such as the Ontario R&D Challenge Fund, the Ontario Innovation Trust and the Premier's Research Excellence Awards.

One part of the Common Sense Revolution was to sell off various government-owned enterprises, the largest of which were to be [[Ontario Hydro]] and the [[Liquor Control Board of Ontario]]. Neither was actually sold off, but Ontario Hydro was split into five successor companies (the two largest being [[Ontario Power Generation]] and [[Hydro One]], representing generation and distribution of power respectively) with the plan of eventually selling them off. Public opposition to the sale of these money-making government enterprises postponed the government's plans. In 1999, [[Ontario Highway 407|Highway 407]] was leased to a private consortium.<ref name="logospathosethos.com"/>

The provincial government of Mike Harris undertook an extensive program of municipal mergers between 1996 and 2002. The province had 815 municipalities in 1996; by 2002, this had been reduced to just 447.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/maps/currentrestructure.aspx |title=Archived copy |accessdate=January 11, 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105084333/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/maps/currentrestructure.aspx |archivedate=November 5, 2012 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/maps/sources.aspx |title=The Changing Shape of Ontario: Sources |website=Archives.gov.on.ca |date= |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref> In the largest and most widely covered of these moves, the individual cities that made up [[Metropolitan Toronto|Metro Toronto]] were merged into a single city (called the "[[merger (politics)#Canada|megacity]]" by the media and citizens); the amalgamation was not part of their pre-election policy platform. The Conservatives argued that the move would eliminate duplication of services and increase efficiency, however while the amalgamation produced substantial dislocation in the delivery of civic services, in the decade since the amalgamation of Toronto no quantitative evidence of cost-savings has been produced. Opposition parties were strongly opposed to the move; the NDP took the unusual step of attempting to [[Filibuster#Provincial|filibuster against the bill]] by reading out the name of every street name in Toronto. In order to further reduce provincial commitments, financial responsibility for provincial income assistance programs were transferred or "[http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/blog/hefty_housing_costs_stay_local_in__good_news__bad_news__provincial_funding_deal/ downloaded]" to municipalities, increasing the burden on municipal tax bases. The [[list of municipalities in Ontario]] is updated to the ''Municipal Act, 2001'', which is the legislation that enables incorporation and stipulates governance of Ontario's municipalities, excluding the City of [[Toronto]], which is now subject to the ''City of Toronto Act, 2006''.<ref>{{cite web | title=City of Toronto Act, 2006 | url=http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_06c11_e.htm | work=e-Laws | publisher=[[Government of Ontario]] | accessdate=August 20, 2013}}</ref> The ''Municipal Act, 2001'' provides lower and single-tier municipalities with the authority to incorporate as [[city|cities]], [[town]]s, [[village]]s, [[township]]s, or generically as municipalities.<ref name=guide>{{cite web |url=http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=4965 |title=The Municipal Councillor's Guide |publisher=[[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing]] |format=PDF |accessdate=June 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name=AMO>{{cite web |url=http://www.amo.on.ca/AMO-Content/Municipal-101/Ontario-Municipalities.aspx |title=Ontario Municipalities |publisher=[[Association of Municipalities of Ontario]] |accessdate=June 25, 2013}}</ref> A 2015 review of the amalgamation policy states plainly that it failed to deliver the cost savings and efficiencies promised by the architects of The Common Sense Revolution, and concludes that the rushed municipal marriages triggered increased local government costs, higher property taxes and deeper debt loads: "There were huge increases in costs — it really wasn’t well thought out."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/toronto/there-were-huge-increases-in-costs-it-really-wasnt-well-thought-out-study-slams-forced-city-mergers |title=‘There were huge increases in costs — it really wasn’t well thought out,’ study slams forced city mergers | National Post |website=News.nationalpost.com |date= |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref>

The Ontario provincial debt increased by an additional $20 Billion between 1995 and 1999. <ref name="logospathosethos.com"/>

===Education===

In 1997, Ontario's teachers held the largest walkout in North American history, a two-week strike that the Harris government ruled was illegal, but the teachers were unsuccessful in getting significant changes to government policies.

The Harris government also announced several education reforms, most notably the elimination of the fifth year of high school in Ontario (known as the [[Ontario Academic Credit|OAC]] year). This created a double graduating class in 2003 (known as the "[[double cohort]]") after Harris had left office. Other education reforms reduced the powers of school boards, and mandated a standardized curriculum and province-wide testing of students. In 1999, it introduced a policy of "teacher testing", requiring teachers to take examinations on a regular basis. The latter initiative was unpopular with teachers, many of whom regarded it as an intrusion on their professional autonomy. A separate controversy occurred shortly after the Harris government took office, involving events at [[Ipperwash Provincial Park]], in which a native protester was killed by police. (See [[Ipperwash Crisis]].)

==Second term as Premier of Ontario (1999–2002)==
In 1999, the Harris government was re-elected for a second term as a majority government, helped largely by its political base in the 905 area. In 1999 Harris also announced a program called [[Ontario's Living Legacy]]. The initiative added 378 new parks and protected areas, bringing the total in Ontario to 650 and increasing Ontario's protected areas to more than {{convert|95000 |km2}}.

Controversy arose in 2000 when the town water supply of [[Walkerton, Ontario|Walkerton]] became infected by [[Escherichia coli|E. coli]]. Seven people died and hundreds became ill. Provincial water testing had been [[Privatization|privatized]] in October 1996 by Harris' first government.<ref name="Walkerton-part-2">[http://www.sourcewater.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=2&Sub1=2&sub2=0] {{dead link|date=April 2016}}</ref> It was later discovered the local official responsible for water quality, [[Stan Koebel]], had lied, falsified records, failed to test water quality regularly, and when the outbreak occurred had failed to promptly notify the local Medical Officer of Health. In late 2004, Koebel pleaded guilty to a minor charge in relation to the offence and was sentenced to one year in jail.

The [[Walkerton Tragedy|Walkerton tragedy]] had serious ramifications for Harris's government. [[David Peterson]] later acknowledged that it could have happened under any Premier's watch{{citation needed|reason=this is denied by Peterson via email|date=November 2015}}, and it was often noted that Koebel's lying and falsification of records had gone unnoticed by governments of different political stripes. Harris's handling of the tragedy was also criticized, as he initially attempted to place some of the blame on previous Liberal and NDP governments. Harris called a public inquiry, headed by [[Dennis O'Connor (judge)|Justice Dennis O'Connor]], which later noted that in addition to Stan Koebel's failure to properly monitor and treat the water supply, deregulation of water quality testing and cuts to the Ministry of the Environment were contributing factors.<ref name="CBCIndepthWalkerton" /> The inquest into the tragedy found that the government cuts to inspection services and their privatisation had created a situation in which future water safety could not be guaranteed. The Ontario government was also blamed for not regulating water quality and not enforcing the guidelines that had been in place.<ref name="Walkerton-part-2"/>

A riot developed at [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]], the site of the Ontario Legislature, on 15 June 2000. The [[Ontario Coalition Against Poverty]] and other activists who included [[George Smitherman]], lobbed molotov cocktails, bricks, and bottles.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/06/15/000615riot.html |title=Riot at Queen's Park |work=CBC News |date=2000-06-15 |accessdate=2014-06-18}}</ref> No convictions resulted from several attempts to try individuals for substantial crimes.

The Harris government balanced the provincial budget in 2001. Harris supporters pointed to the fact that government revenues rose from $48 billion in 1995 to $64 billion by 2001, when the budget was balanced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2001/edoc_comp.pdf |title=2001 Ontario Budget: Budget Papers |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528202051/http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2001/edoc_comp.pdf |archivedate=2008-05-28 |df= }}</ref> Harris' government reduced Ontario welfare rolls by 500,000 people; critics contend these cuts led to a rise in homelessness and poverty. Supporters argued that high welfare rates had created disincentives to find entry-level jobs, and that poverty levels remained relatively unchanged between 1995 and 2005. Employment rates increased significantly during the late 1990s. The government rewrote labour laws to require secret ballot votes before workplaces could unionize. The previous NDP government's law outlawing the hiring of replacement workers during strikes was repealed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

Other changes brought in by the Harris government include standardized student tests. These were criticized by some educators as forcing schools to teach in a manner simply oriented to test-passing, and not teach in a way to encourage genuine learning. Others valued the tests as a means for parents to measure their children's achievement and that of the school against peers. A new provincial funding formula for school boards stripped the local boards of their taxation powers.

In 2001, the Harris government introduced a plan to give a tax credit for parents who send their children to private and denominational schools (despite having campaigned against such an initiative in 1999). Supporters claimed it was fair given the public funding of Catholic schools,{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} while opponents were concerned about a potential diversion of resources and students from the public system. Harris also broke with tradition to place [[backbencher|backbench]] MPPs on Cabinet committees. He appointed more women as deputy ministers than any other premier in Ontario history, including the only two women to head the Ontario public service.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}}

==Withdrawal from politics (2002–2004)==
For personal reasons Harris resigned in 2002 and was succeeded as Tory leader and premier by his long-time friend and Minister of Finance, [[Ernie Eves]].

Soon after leaving office, Harris joined the Toronto law firm [[Goodmans|Goodmans LLP]], where he served as an advisor until 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2013/09/16/mike-harris-to-join-fasken-martineau/ |title=Mike Harris to join Fasken Martineau | Financial Post |website=Business.financialpost.com |date= |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref>

Later in 2002, Harris also joined the [[Fraser Institute]], a right-of-centre<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2001/06/28/taxfreedom_010628.html |title=CBC News.ca |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=2001-06-29 |accessdate=2011-07-26 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604220409/http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2001/06/28/taxfreedom_010628.html |archivedate=June 4, 2009 }}</ref> [[Libertarianism|libertarian]] [[think tank]], as a 'Senior Fellow'. It was there that he became involved with the ideals of [[Preston Manning]], becoming a major influence in federal politics as well as Alberta. His Common Sense Revolution was repeated in Alberta with each of the steps including the firing and rehiring of nurses. In January 2003, Harris was named to the Board of Directors of [[Magna International]]. More recently in 2011, he was criticized for accepting re-election to the Board of Magna despite receiving only 38% of shareholder support. This was possible since shareholder votes in Canada are either counted as "for" a director or else considered as "withheld", meaning that they are not counted.<ref>{{cite web|first=Janet|last=McFarland|url=http://www.globeadvisor.com/servlet/ArticleNews/story/gam/20111208/RBMAGNAVOTEMCFARLANDATL|title=Barely one in three backed Harris for Magna chair|work=The Globe and Mail|date=December 8, 2011|accessdate=2016-02-08}}</ref> In 2012, Harris indicated that he would step down from the Board of Directors at [[Magna International]] after completing a process to collapse the company's dual-class share structure that he helped begin in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2012/03/30/mike-harris-steps-down-from-magna-board/ |title=Mike Harris steps down from Magna Board |work=Financial Post |date=2012-03-30 |accessdate=2013-11-09}}</ref>

During his time as Premier, Harris was frequently cited as someone who could "unite the right" in Canada, and lead a merged party of federal [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservatives]] and [[Reform Party of Canada|Reform]]/[[Canadian Alliance]] supporters. He made serious steps toward a career in federal politics after stepping down as Premier, weighing in on issues such as the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] (which he supported) and the value of the [[Canadian dollar]] (which he wanted to see increase in relation to the American dollar). In late 2003, he made a speech in [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]] which many believed was the unofficial launch of a campaign to lead the new [[Conservative Party of Canada]]. In the end, Harris decided to stand aside; he later endorsed former Magna International President and CEO [[Belinda Stronach]], in the [[Conservative Party of Canada leadership election, 2004|2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election]].

He was later involved in a minor controversy, yelling and repeatedly swearing at a party official who asked him for his identification as he voted in the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election, 2004|2004 Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leadership election]].<ref>Canadian Press. "Harris apologizes for swearing at Tories." ''Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal'', September 23, 2004.</ref>

==Ipperwash Inquest (2005–2007)==
{{main|Ipperwash Crisis}}
Shortly after his first election win in 1995, Mike Harris faced his first crisis as Premier. Protesters fighting land claim issues took over a Provincial Park 150 km South West of Toronto. During a confrontation with the demonstrators, [[Ontario Provincial Police]] acting Sgt. Kenneth Deane fired on [[First Nations]] demonstrators who had occupied the park, killing a protester named [[Dudley George]]. In the inquiry following the shooting, it was determined that while some protesters were carrying rocks, sticks and baseball bats, none were carrying firearms. The confrontation that led to the shooting began when police clashed with a protester armed with a steel pipe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/inquiries/ipperwash/report/vol_1/pdf/E_Vol_1_Conclusion.pdf |title=Ipperwash Inquiry, Investigation and Findings, Volume 1 - Conclusion. P681 |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref> The government and the OPP maintained that there was no political involvement in the shooting, but inside the Legislature where [[Parliamentary privilege]] outweighs any civil claims, several opposition politicians suggested that the attack may have been ordered by the Premier's office, and called for an independent judicial inquiry. In a court case that went all the way the [[Supreme Court of Canada]], Deane maintained that he was not under orders to shoot and was convicted of criminal negligence causing death. An inquiry, headed by commissioner Justice [[Sidney Linden]], was called after the government of [[Dalton McGuinty]] was elected in 2003.

On November 28, 2005, former [[Attorney General of Ontario|Attorney General]] [[Charles Harnick]] testified before the inquiry that Harris had shouted "I want the fucking Indians out of the park" at a meeting with Ontario Provincial Police officer Ron Fox, hours before the shooting occurred (''Canadian Press'', 28 November 2005, 12:45 report). Other witnesses have disputed this account, and Harris himself denied it in his testimony on 14 February 2006 at the inquiry.

The inquiry released its report on May 31, 2007. It concluded that Harris did not bear responsibility for the outcome at Ipperwash:
<blockquote>
The evidence demonstrated that the Premier and his officials wanted the occupation to end quickly, but there is no evidence to suggest that the Premier or any official in his government was responsible for Mr. George's death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipperwashinquiry.ca/report/vol_1/pdf/E_Vol_1_Conclusion.pdf |title=Ipperwash Inquiry, Investigation and Findings, Volume 1 - Conclusion. P675 |publisher=Ipperwashinquiry.ca |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref>
</blockquote>
However, the report also stated that both the provincial and federal levels of government, as well as the Ontario Provincial Police shared responsibility for the events at Ipperwash. The report found that while Harris did not order the police to remove protesters from the park, his approach "narrowed the scope" of the response to the situation:
<blockquote>
The Premier's determination to seek a quick resolution closed off many options endorsed by civil servants in the Ontario government, including process negotiations, the appointment of mediators, and opening up communication with the First Nations people. His narrow approach to the occupation did not enable the situation to stabilize at the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipperwashinquiry.com/report/vol_4/pdf/E_Vol_4_Summary_1.pdf |title=Ipperwash Enquiry, Investigation and Findings, Volume 1 - Executive Summary, pp. 49–50 |publisher=Ipperwashinquiry.com |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229172020/http://www.ipperwashinquiry.com/report/vol_4/pdf/E_Vol_4_Summary_1.pdf |archivedate=2008-02-29 |df= }}</ref>
</blockquote>

The Inquiry found that Harris did say "I want the fucking Indians out of the park," despite his denials to that effect. This finding was based on not being able to find an existing animosity from Charles Harnick towards Mike Harris and the fact that Harnick was reversing previous statements that he had made in the legislature which would not be of any benefit to himself.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ipperwash-inquiry-spreads-blame-for-george-s-death-1.666937 |title=Ipperwash inquiry spreads blame for George's death |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=2007-05-31 |accessdate=2014-06-18}}</ref>

==Later life==
In late May 2010, [[Nipissing University]] confirmed that Harris would receive an honorary doctorate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nipissingu.ca/news/view.asp?ID=20061234 |title=Recent News |publisher=Nipissingu.ca |date= |accessdate=2011-07-26}}</ref> In response, the [[Ontario Teachers' Federation]] threatened to discourage, or even prevent, their members from acting as associate teachers for students in Nipissing University's Bachelor of Education program, which requires students to complete 12 weeks of practice teaching in a classroom.<ref>[http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/University+stands+honorary+degree+given+Mike+Harris/3133787/story.html ]{{dead link|date=July 2011}}</ref> Nipissing University's $25 million Harris Learning Library, which opened in 2011, is named after the former premier.

In 2012, Mike Harris started a local Nurse Next Door Home Care franchise in Toronto with wife Laura.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nurse Next Door |url=http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1065359/from-premier-s-office-to-flower-covered-pink-car |title=From Premier's Office to Flower Covered Pink Car |website=Newswire.ca |date=2012-11-06 |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref>

In May 2014, Mike Harris co-led an independent Canadian mission to observe the Ukrainian presidential election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mike-harris-leading-ukraine-election-observer-mission-1.2648626 |title=Mike Harris leading Ukraine election observer mission - Politics - CBC News |website=Cbc.ca |date= |accessdate=2016-04-10}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Common Sense Revolution]]
* [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]]
* [[Ipperwash Crisis]]
* [[Walkerton tragedy]]
* ''[[Life Under Mike]]'' - A documentary about the overall effects of the Common Sense Revolution produced by filmmaker [[James Motluk]] and released in September, 2000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://contests.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_09.28.00/film/lifeundermike.php |title=Archived copy |accessdate=September 28, 2000 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062842/http://contests.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_09.28.00/film/lifeundermike.php |archivedate=February 22, 2014 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="CBCIndepthWalkerton">{{cite news
|url = http://www.cbc.ca/news2/background/walkerton/
|title = INDEPTH: INSIDE WALKERTON Canada's worst-ever E. coli contamination
|publisher = [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]
|date = 2004-12-20
|accessdate = 2014-06-18}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Ontario MPP biography|ID=44}}
* [http://ao.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/ARCH_DESCRIPTIVE/DESCRIPTION_DET_REP/SISN%2011317?SESSIONSEARCH Michael D. Harris fonds], Archives of Ontario
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{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post2preceded = [[George Ashe (Canadian politician)|George Ashe]]
| post2 = [[Ministry of Energy (Ontario)|Minister of Energy]]
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| post1preceded = [[Alan Pope]]
| post1 = [[Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)|Minister of Natural Resources]]
| post1years = 1985 (February–June)
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Mike}}
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