View source for Mike Harris

{{Short description|22nd Premier of Ontario (born 1945)}}
{{for multi|his son|Mike Harris Jr.|other people|Michael Harris (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = Mike Harris
| honorific_suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|OOnt|ECO|size=100%}}
| image               = Mike Harris 2014.jpg
| caption             = Harris in 2014
| order1              = 22nd
| office1             = Premier of Ontario
| term_start1         = June 26, 1995
| term_end1           = April 14, 2002
| monarch1            = [[Elizabeth II]]
| lieutenant_governor1 = [[Hal Jackman]]<br />[[Hilary Weston]]<br />[[James Bartleman]]
| predecessor1        = [[Bob Rae]]
| successor1          = [[Ernie Eves]]
| office2             = Leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]]
| term_start2         = May 12, 1990
| term_end2           = March 23, 2002
| predecessor2        = [[Andy Brandt]] (interim)
| successor2          = [[Ernie Eves]]
| office3             = [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] for [[Nipissing (provincial electoral district)|Nipissing]]
| term_start3         = March 19, 1981
| term_end3           = April 14, 2002
| predecessor3        = [[Mike Bolan]]
| successor3          = [[Al McDonald]]
| constituency3       = 
| birth_name          = Michael Deane Harris
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1945|1|23}}
| birth_place         = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| residence           = 
| party               = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]]
| spouse = Mary Alyce Coward<br>(m. 1967, div.),<br>Janet Harrison<br>(m. 1974, div.),<br>Laura Maguire (m. 2005)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/michael-deane-harris|title = Mike Harris &#124; the Canadian Encyclopedia}}</ref>
| relations           = 2, including [[Mike Harris Jr.]] 
}}

'''Michael Deane Harris''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|OOnt|ECO}} (born January 23, 1945) is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 22nd [[premier of Ontario]] from 1995 to 2002 and leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]] from 1990 to 2002. Taking the PC Party to the right, he is noted for the "[[Common Sense Revolution]]", his government's program of [[fiscally conservative]] policies.

Born in [[Toronto]], Harris grew up in [[North Bay, Ontario|North Bay]] and worked as a ski instructor and schoolteacher before becoming a school board trustee in 1974. In [[1981 Ontario general election|1981]], he became a [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Canada)|member of Provincial Parliament]] (MPP) for the riding of [[Nipissing (provincial electoral district)|Nipissing]]. He became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in the [[1990 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election|1990 leadership election]]. That same year, [[1990 Ontario general election|a provincial election]] was called in which Harris led the PCs to a modest boost in support, though they still remained in third place. However, five years later, he led the PCs to a strong [[majority government]] in the [[1995 Ontario general election|1995 provincial election]]. He led the party to a second majority in [[1999 Ontario general election|1999]].

As party leader and premier, Harris shifted the historically centrist PC Party to the right by embracing the Common Sense Revolution, which emphasized lower taxes, deficit reduction, cuts to public spending, and privatization. His government reduced personal income taxes by 30 percent, privatized [[Highway 407]], and privatized provincial water testing which was viewed as controversial especially after the [[Walkerton E. coli outbreak|Walkerton ''E. coli'' outbreak]]. He oversaw cuts to healthcare, infrastructure, and education spending, the last of which led to the [[1997 Ontario teachers' strike]], the largest teachers' strike in Ontario history. In 1999, Harris' government [[balanced budget|balanced the budget]]. In administrative policy, his government reduced the number of MPPs from 130 to 103 between 1995 and 1999, and oversaw the [[Amalgamation of Toronto]]. In his final years in office, his government introduced a tax credit for parents who send their children to [[private schools]].

In 2002, Harris retired as premier and PC leader, and was succeeded by [[Ernie Eves]] in both capacities. After leaving office, Harris went into the private sector and became a fellow at the [[Fraser Institute]], a conservative think tank.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Milstead |first=David |date=2021-01-20 |title=Opinion: Golden years, golden boards: Mike Harris's post-politics career |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-a-look-at-mike-harriss-post-politics-career/ |access-date=2023-07-02}}</ref>

==Background==
Harris was born in [[Toronto]], Ontario, the son of Hope Gooding (born Robinson) and Sidney Deane Harris.<ref name=ce>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/michael-deane-harris|title=Michael Deane Harris|encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]|publisher=[[Historica Canada]]|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</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 for two years to [[Sainte-Adèle, Quebec]], where he became a ski instructor. 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 ski-hill operation, Harris was hired to manage North Bay's Pinewood Golf Club.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|author=Marci Mcdonald|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/michael-deane-harris-profile|title=Michael Deane Harris (Profile)|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=August 21, 2019}} From [[Maclean's]], June 19, 1995</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Diane Lois|last= Way |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/255925/Mike-Harris |title=Mike Harris, Encyclopædia Britannica |publisher=Britannica.com |access-date=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 [[1981 Ontario general election|1981 election]], and defeated [[Mike Bolan]], the incumbent [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] MPP in [[Nipissing (provincial electoral district)|Nipissing]].<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&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 [[Pierre Trudeau]].<ref>Stevenson, Mark.  "Right in the heartland". ''Saturday Night'' (May 1995), Vol. 110 Issue 4, pp. 19–25</ref>

Harris sat as a [[backbencher]] in [[Bill Davis]]'s PC government from 1981 to 1985. He supported [[Frank Miller (Canadian 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 [[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 [[1985 Ontario general election|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> 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]] (NDP).<ref name="Boyer2015">{{cite book|author=J. Patrick Boyer|title=The Big Blue Machine: How Tory Campaign Backrooms Changed Canadian Politics Forever|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t3byAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA464|date=2015|publisher=Dundurn|isbn=978-1-4597-2450-1|page=464}}</ref>

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 [[1987 Ontario general election|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)==
Grossman, who had lost his legislative seat, remained the 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 [[1990 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election|1990 leadership race]], and defeated [[Dianne Cunningham]] in a province-wide vote to replace Grossman as the party's official leader.

The [[1990 Ontario general election|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 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.

==1995 election==
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.<ref name="LindquistCanada2000">{{cite book|author1=Evert A. Lindquist|author2=Institute of Public Administration of Canada|title=Government Restructuring and Career Public Service in Canada|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PwEkBvSdQF0C&pg=PA18|year=2000|publisher=Institute of Public Administration of Canada|isbn=978-0-920715-92-5|page=18}}</ref>

By the [[1995 Ontario general election|1995 election]], the governing New Democratic Party and incumbent Premier Bob Rae had become 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.macleans.ca/issue/19950619|title=Maclean's — June 1995|website=Maclean's &#124; The Complete Archive}}</ref> The turning point in the election is often considered to be Harris's 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. 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).<ref name="Gidney1999">{{cite book|author=Robert Douglas Gidney|title=From Hope to Harris: The Reshaping of Ontario's Schools|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q9Ct67DdWYIC&pg=PA165|year=1999|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-8020-8125-4|pages=165–}}</ref> Harris's 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 PCs in 1995 (instead of to the Liberals as expected pre-campaign), enabling the PCs 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 addition roughly half of the PCs seats came from the suburban belt surrounding [[Metropolitan Toronto|Metro Toronto]], often called the '905' for its telephone area code. The PCs' growth from 20 to 82 seats in the 130 seat legislature vaulted them from third place to a large majority government.<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=Mismanaging During Storms: The Harris, Eves and Hudak Conservatives in Ontario |publisher=Logos Pathos Ethos |date=2011-02-17 |access-date=2011-07-26 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820061053/http://logospathosethos.com/articles/2011/2/17/mismanaging-during-storms-the-harris-eves-and-hudak-conserva.html |archive-date=2011-08-20 }}</ref>

==Premier of Ontario (1995–2002)==
===First term (1995–1999)===
====Common Sense Revolution====
{{main|Common Sense Revolution}}

Upon election, the Harris government immediately began to implement a far-reaching reform agenda 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 21.6%.<ref name="McAlpin2009">{{cite book|author=Kathleen McAlpin|title=Ministry That Transforms: A Contemplative Process of Theological Reflection|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TkYZrorRmwgC&pg=PA73|year=2009|publisher=Liturgical Press|isbn=978-0-8146-3222-2|page=73}}</ref>  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.<ref name="Quaid2002">{{cite book|author=Maeve Quaid|title=Workfare: Why Good Social Policy Ideas Go Bad|url=https://archive.org/details/workfarewhygoods0000quai|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-8020-8101-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/workfarewhygoods0000quai/page/173 173]–}}</ref>

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 and amalgamations on the recommendations of a Health Services Restructuring Commission.<ref>{{cite report |author=Lorraine Luski |date=October 2000 |title=Hospital Restructuring in Ontario |url=https://collections.ola.org/mon/2000/10294163.htm |publisher=Ontario Legislative Library |access-date=2020-09-01}}</ref> 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".<ref>''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', 6 March 1997</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=September 2021}}
[[File:Premier Mike Harris 1996.jpg|185px|thumb|right|Premier Harris at a pancake festival, 1996]]
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's election.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://transit.toronto.on.ca/subway/5112.shtml |title=The Eglinton West Subway |publisher=Transit Toronto |date=2011-06-26 |access-date=2011-07-26}}</ref>

Harris's government also cut health spending to counter the $30&nbsp;billion cut in transfer payments from the Liberal federal government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cupe.ca/health-care/BE4555 |title=Health Care &#124; Canadian Union of Public Employees |website=Cupe.ca |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref> It also introduced Telehealth Ontario, a 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"/>

Harris reduced the number of MPPs from 130 to 103 by redrawing riding boundaries to correspond to federal electoral districts.<ref name=ce />

The Harris government passed Bill 26, the ''Savings and Restructuring Act'', which 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 447.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/maps/currentrestructure.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=January 11, 2014 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105084333/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/maps/currentrestructure.aspx |archive-date=November 5, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/maps/sources.aspx |title=The Changing Shape of Ontario: Sources |website=Archives.gov.on.ca |access-date=2016-04-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423104931/http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/maps/sources.aspx |archive-date=2016-04-23 |url-status=dead }}</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. 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 in Toronto. In order to further reduce provincial commitments, financial responsibility for provincial income assistance programs was transferred or "downloaded" to municipalities, increasing the burden on municipal tax bases.<ref>[http://www.wellesleyinstitute.com/blog/hefty_housing_costs_stay_local_in__good_news__bad_news__provincial_funding_deal/ "Hefty housing costs stay local in good news bad news provincial funding deal"]. Wellesley Institute website</ref>  The [[list of municipalities in Ontario]] was updated by 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]] | access-date=August 20, 2013}}</ref> The ''Municipal Act, 2001'' provides lower and single-tier municipalities with the authority to incorporate as cities, towns, villages, townships, 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 |access-date=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]] |access-date=June 25, 2013}}</ref>

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 public employees earning over $100,000 per year, to increase 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 |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref>

====Education====
{{See also|1997 Ontario teachers' strike}}
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 introduced Bill 160, (the ''Education Quality Improvement Act''), which mandated a standardized curriculum and province-wide testing for students. This included Grade 3 and 6 EQAO (numeracy and literacy) testing, as well as a Grade 10 Literacy test.<ref>{{cite news |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 |newspaper=Toronto Sun|date=26 June 2015}}</ref> Harris introduced a requirement for High School students to complete a mandatory 40 hours of volunteering in community service in order to graduate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.therecord.com/opinion/columnists/2012/08/16/taylor-why-student-slave-labour-is-mike-harris-greatest-achievement.html|title=Why student slave labour is Mike Harris' greatest achievement|author=Peter Taylor|work=The Record |date=16 August 2012}}</ref>

In 1999, it introduced a policy of "teacher testing", requiring teachers to take examinations on a regular basis. Principals and vice-principals were removed from the [OTF].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/john_snobelen/2010/06/11/14360076.html|title=15 years later, Mike Harris still haunts teachers' unions: Snobelen|author=John Snobelen|newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=12 June 2010|access-date=19 November 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805180126/http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/john_snobelen/2010/06/11/14360076.html|archivedate=5 August 2014}}</ref>

==== 1995 referendum on the separation of Quebec ====
Harris, along with [[Stephen Harper]], was appointed negotiator by Prime Minister [[Jean Chrétien]] to face Quebec negotiators nominated by the separatist leaders of Quebec: Lucien Bouchard and Mario Dumont.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://l-express.ca/reecrire-lhistoire-en-pleine-campagne-electorale/|title=Réécrire l'Histoire en pleine campagne électorale|date=September 27, 2018}}</ref><ref name="LeDevoir2005">{{cite news |last=Cauchon |first=Paul |date=August 27, 2005 |title=Point de rupture, à Radio-Canada - Portrait saisissant d'un référendum |url=https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/medias/89192/point-de-rupture-a-radio-canada-portrait-saisissant-d-un-referendum |language=French |work=[[Le Devoir]] |location= |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref> At the time of the referendum campaign, Harris affirmed that "a separate Quebec would be a foreign country. Final point."

====Ipperwash crisis====
Shortly after being sworn in, Harris faced his first crisis as premier. Protesters fighting land claim issues took over a provincial park 200&nbsp;kilometres west of Toronto. During a confrontation with the demonstrators, [[Ontario Provincial Police]] acting Sergeant Kenneth Deane fired on [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] demonstrators who had occupied the park, killing a protester named [[Dudley George]]. 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]]. The [[Ipperwash Inquiry]] would later be called by the Liberal government of [[Dalton McGuinty]], due to recalcitrance on Harris's part.

===Second term (1999–2002)===
In [[1999 Ontario general election|1999]], the Harris government was re-elected for a second term with a majority government, helped largely by its political base in the suburban areas around Toronto.<ref name="Canada2005">{{cite book|author=Institute of Public Administration of Canada|title=Executive Styles in Canada: Cabinet Structures and Leadership Practices in Canadian Government|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XS613plqdOYC&pg=PA155|year=2005|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-8020-3785-5|pages=155–}}</ref>

The Harris government balanced the provincial budget in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.therecord.com/opinion-story/5565132-the-long-sad-history-of-ontario-deficits/|title=The long, sad history of Ontario deficits|author=LivioDi Matteo|date=20 April 2015}}</ref>  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 |access-date=2011-07-26 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528202051/http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/english/budget/ontariobudgets/2001/edoc_comp.pdf |archive-date=2008-05-28 }}</ref>

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's first government.<ref name="Walkerton-part-2">{{cite web|url=http://www.sourcewater.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=2&Sub1=2&sub2=0|title=The Walkerton Inquiry|publisher=Lake Erie Source Protection Region|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018003221/http://www.sourcewater.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=2&Sub1=2&sub2=0|archive-date=October 18, 2015}}</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.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}

The [[Walkerton E. coli outbreak|Walkerton tragedy]] had serious ramifications for Harris's government. Harris blamed the previous NDP government for loosening water standards.<ref name="CBC-in-depth">{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/walkerton/ |publisher=CBC News |title=Inside Walkerton: Ontario's rural heartland in shock |date=May 1, 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041023231617/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/walkerton/ |archive-date=October 23, 2004}}</ref> 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 privatization 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"/><ref name="Bezanson2006">{{cite book|author=Kate Bezanson|title=Gender, the State, and Social Reproduction: Household Insecurity in Neo-liberal Times|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=otGhL6tOskAC&pg=PA6|year=2006|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-8020-9065-2|page=50}}</ref>

An uprising developed at [[Queen's Park (Toronto)|Queen's Park]], the site of the Ontario Legislature, on June 15, 2000.  The [[Ontario Coalition Against Poverty]] and other activists, including MPP of [[Toronto Centre (provincial electoral district)|Toronto Centre]], [[George Smitherman]], protested the Harris ministry policies that were resulting in the transfer of wealth to the wealthy from everyone else.  Some of the protesters lobbed [[molotov cocktail]]s, bricks, and bottles.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/riot-at-queen-s-park-1.210655 |title=Riot at Queen's Park |work=CBC News |date=2000-06-15 |access-date=2014-06-18}}</ref>

Harris's government reduced Ontario welfare rolls by 500,000 people;<ref name="MontignyChambers2000">{{cite book|author1=Edgar-André Montigny|author2=Anne Lorene Chambers|author3=Lori Chambers|title=Ontario Since Confederation: A Reader|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oSfenc15ISUC&pg=PA429|year=2000|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-0-8020-8234-3|pages=429–430}}</ref> 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.<ref name="CollierMalloy2016">{{cite book|author1=Cheryl N. Collier|author2=Jonathan Malloy|title=The Politics of Ontario|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U9lhDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT248|year=2016|publisher=University of Toronto Press|isbn=978-1-4426-0915-0|page=248}}</ref>

Other changes brought in by the Harris government include standardized math and literacy student tests, known as [[Education Quality and Accountability Office|EQAO]]. EQAO testing is conducted in Grade 3 and 6 (for math and literacy) and 9 (for math only). Teachers are not allowed to preview the tests ahead of time, eliminating the risk of 'teaching to the test'. School principals are required to discuss EQAO results during staff meetings, and plan their focus accordingly. In Grade 10, high school students are required to pass a literacy test in order to graduate.<ref>[http://www.eqao.com/en/about_eqao/about_the_agency/Pages/GeneralQuestions.aspx_Lang=E.aspx]{{dead link|date=October 2021}}</ref> A new provincial funding formula for school boards stripped the local boards of their taxation powers.<ref>{{cite book|title=Ontario Alternative Budget 2005: Addressing the Real Fiscal Imbalance|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VHTMhmf2fWMC&pg=PA26|year=2005|publisher=Canadian Centre Policy Alternatives|isbn=978-0-88627-434-4|page=26}}</ref>

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, while opponents were concerned about a potential diversion of resources and students from the public system.<ref name="Salzman2011">{{cite book|author=Philip Carl Salzman|title=Classic Comparative Anthropology: Studies from the Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OVgfAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA60|date= 2011|publisher=Waveland Press|isbn=978-1-4786-1010-6|page=60}}</ref> Harris also broke with tradition to place [[backbencher|backbench]] MPPs on Cabinet committees.

Harris resigned as premier and MPP on April 14, 2002 and [[2002 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election|was succeeded]] as PC leader and premier by his long-time friend and minister of finance, [[Ernie Eves]].

==After politics (2002–present)==

Soon after leaving office, Harris joined the Toronto law firm [[Goodmans|Goodmans LLP]], where he served as an advisor until 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2013/09/16/mike-harris-to-join-fasken-martineau/ |title=Mike Harris to join Fasken Martineau &#124; Financial Post |newspaper=Financial Post |date=16 September 2013 |access-date=2016-04-10|last1=Hasselback |first1=Drew }}</ref>

Later in 2002, Harris also joined the [[Fraser Institute]], a right-of-centre<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/friday-is-tax-freedom-day-fraser-institute-1.256016 |title=CBC News.ca |publisher=Cbc.ca |date=2001-06-29 |access-date=2011-07-26 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604220409/http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2001/06/28/taxfreedom_010628.html |archive-date=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. Harris served on the board of directors of the [[Manning Centre for Building Democracy (Alberta)|Manning Centre]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/CA/XTSE/CSHUT/company-people/executive-profile/256417 |work=Wall Street Journal |title=Michael Deane Harris |access-date=May 26, 2020}}</ref>

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|access-date=2023-11-19|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213122300/http://www.globeadvisor.com/servlet/ArticleNews/story/gam/20111208/RBMAGNAVOTEMCFARLANDATL|archivedate=February 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name=FinPost/> 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 name=FinPost>{{cite news|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 |access-date=2013-11-09|last1=Deveau |first1=Scott }}</ref>

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 [[2004 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election|2004 Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leadership election]].<ref>Canadian Press.  "Harris apologizes for swearing at Tories."  ''Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal'', September 23, 2004.</ref>

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 |access-date=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>{{Cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20100619012030/http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/University+stands+honorary+degree+given+Mike+Harris/3133787/story.html|url-status=dead|title=Home &#124; The National Post Home Page &#124; National Post|website=nationalpost|archive-date=2010-06-19|access-date=2021-02-13}}</ref> Nipissing University's  $25 million Harris Learning Library, which opened in 2011, is named after the former premier.

In 2012, Harris started a local Nurse Next Door Home Care franchise in Toronto with wife Laura.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nurse Next Door |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/from-premiers-office-to-flower-covered-pink-car-511107321.html |title=From Premier's Office to Flower Covered Pink Car |website=Newswire.ca |date=2012-11-06 |access-date=2021-04-03}}</ref> In May 2014, Harris co-led an independent Canadian mission to observe the [[2014 Ukrainian presidential election|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 |publisher= CBC News |website=Cbc.ca |access-date=2016-04-10}}</ref>

In [[2018 Ontario general election]], his son [[Mike Harris Jr.]] was elected as MPP for [[Kitchener—Conestoga (provincial electoral district)|Kitchener-Conestoga]], also a member of the Progressive Conservative Party.<ref name="mikejr">Jeff Outhit and Catherine Thompson, [https://www.therecord.com/news-story/8658708-mike-harris-jr-wins-in-kitchener-conestoga-taking-riding-previously-held-by-michael-harris/ "Mike Harris Jr. wins in Kitchener-Conestoga, taking riding previously held by Michael Harris"]. ''[[Waterloo Region Record]]'', June 7, 2018.</ref> From 2003 to 2022, Harris served as the Chair of the Board for [[Chartwell Retirement Residences]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://investors.chartwell.com/English/press-market-information/press-releases/news-details/2022/Chartwell-Retirement-Residences-Announces-the-Election-of-Directors-and-Other-Voting-Results-as-well-as-the-Appointment-of-a-New-Chair-and-New-Committee-Compositions/default.aspx |title=Chartwell Retirement Residences Announces the Election of Directors and Other Voting Results as well as the Appointment of a New Chair and New Committee Compositions |date=May 20, 2022}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada]], Chartwell and other for-profit facilities had "far worse COVID-19 outcomes than public facilities" after paying hundreds of millions to shareholders over the last decade.<ref name="thestar_20200516">{{Cite web| title = For-profit nursing homes have had far worse COVID-19 outcomes than public facilities — and three of the largest paid out $1.5 billion to shareholders|first1=Marco Chown |last1=Oved |first2=Kenyon |last2=Wallace |first3=Brendan |last3=Kennedy| work = The Star| access-date = March 26, 2020| date = May 16, 2020| url = https://www.thestar.com/business/2020/05/16/for-profit-nursing-homes-have-had-far-worse-covid-19-outcomes-than-public-facilities-and-three-of-the-largest-paid-out-15-billion-to-shareholders.html}}</ref> Since joining the board, Mike Harris has been compensated roughly $3.5-million for his services.<ref name="milstead">{{cite news |last=Milstead |first=David |date=January 20, 2021 |title= Golden years, golden boards: Mike Harris's post-politics career |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-a-look-at-mike-harriss-post-politics-career/ |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |access-date=2021-02-08 }}</ref>

===Ipperwash Inquest (2005–2007)===
{{main|Ipperwash Crisis}}
In the inquiry following the [[Ipperwash Crisis]], 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 |access-date=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 to 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 [[Ipperwash 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). Other witnesses have disputed this account, and Harris himself denied it in his testimony on 14 February 2006 at the inquiry.

According to the [[Ontario Court of Justice]] history project, the Ipperwash Inquiry "found that the OPP, the provincial government led by Premier Mike Harris, and the federal government all bore responsibility for the events that led to George's death. The report also called on the federal government to issue a public apology and return Camp Ipperwash – along with compensation – to the Kettle and Stoney Point First Nation."<ref name="ontariocourts_2015">{{Citation |title=Ontario Court of Justice: a History |series=History Project |date=Jul 26, 2015| access-date =March 16, 2019| url = http://www.ontariocourts.ca/ocjhistory/wp-content/uploads/history-project-book.pdf }}</ref> {{rp|425}} In Volume 1 of the report it was noted that, Premier Harris's "comments" and "generally the speed at which he wished to end the occupation of Ipperwash Park, created an atmosphere that unduly narrowed the scope of the government's response to the Aboriginal occupation."<ref name="Linden_20070530_Vol1_fulltext">{{cite report |url=https://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/inquiries/ipperwash/report/vol_1/pdf/E_Vol_1_Full.pdf |publisher=Attorney General of Ontario |author=Sidney B. Linden |author-link=Sidney B. Linden |date=May 30, 2007 |title=Ipperwash Inquiry Report |volume=1 |pages=773}} Volume 1</ref>{{rp|392}}

<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 |access-date=2011-07-26 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229172020/http://www.ipperwashinquiry.com/report/vol_4/pdf/E_Vol_4_Summary_1.pdf |archive-date=2008-02-29 }}</ref>
</blockquote>

In spite of his denials, the inquiry found that Harris did say "I want the fucking Indians out of the park." This finding was based on not being able to find an existing animosity from Harnick towards 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 |access-date=2014-06-18}}</ref>

===Federal politics speculation===

During his time as premier, Harris was frequently cited as someone who could "[[Unite the Right (Canada)|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 [[2004 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election|2004 leadership election]]. Harris was reportedly active in helping Stronach fundraise for her campaign.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2004-03-17 |title=Stronach brings Harris on board to boost campaign |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/stronach-brings-harris-on-board-to-boost-campaign/article995525/ |access-date=2023-07-04}}</ref> 

After the [[Conservative Party of Canada|federal Conservatives']] loss in the [[2021 Canadian federal election]], Harris urged the party to "unite behind" the leader, [[Erin O'Toole]], through a [[Column (periodical)|column]] of his in the newspaper, [[Toronto Sun]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Mike |title=MIKE HARRIS: Let's unite behind Erin O'Toole |url=https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/mike-harris-lets-unite-behind-erin-otoole |newspaper=Toronto Sun |access-date=24 October 2021 |date=23 September 2021}}</ref>

==Distinctions==
* [[Honorary Doctorate|Honorary doctorate]], [[Nipissing University]] (2010)<ref name=ce/>
* Member of the [[Order of Ontario]] (2020)<ref name=oont>{{Cite web |url=https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/59854/province-honouring-the-exceptional-achievements-of-47-ontarians |title=Province Honouring the Exceptional Achievements of 47 Ontarians |website=news.ontario.ca |date=January 1, 2021 |accessdate=January 29, 2023}}</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=Life Under Mike|access-date=February 9, 2014|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222062842/http://contests.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_09.28.00/film/lifeundermike.php |work=Eye Weekly|archive-date=February 22, 2014|date=September 28, 2000}}</ref>

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

==External links==
{{Commons category|Mike Harris}}
* {{Ontario MPP biography|id=michael-harris-44|old_id=44|name=Michael Harris}}
* [https://aims.archives.gov.on.ca/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/DESCRIPTION_WEB/WEB_DESC_DET?SESSIONSEARCH&exp=sisn%2011317 Michael D. Harris fonds], Archives of Ontario
*[https://www.ontariopc.ca Ontario Progressive Conservative Party ]
*[https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/dossiers/tetes/harris/index.html Mike Harris] Biography – Radio-Canada {{in lang|fr}}
*[https://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/Ontario/Dossiers/mikeharris_9409.shtml Mike Harris] Folder – Radio-Canada {{in lang|fr}}

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| post1preceded = [[Alan Pope]]
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