William G. "Bill" Davis

	Anti-Davis

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH: 1929.07.30 - Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

OCCUPATION: Lawyer. Political Organizer.

POLITICAL PARTY:
Progressive Conservative (PC): 1949-2003.
Conservative: 2003-.

PREMIER OF ONTARIO:
1 March 1971 - 8 February 1985.

ONTARIO PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE (MPP):
1985 - Retired, did not seek re-election.
1981.03.19 - Peel - Re-Elected.
1977.06.09 - Peel - Re-Elected.
1975.09.18 - Peel - Re-Elected.
1971.10.21 - Peel - Re-Elected.
1967.10.17 - Peel - Re-Elected.
1963.09.25 - Peel - Re-Elected.
1959.06.11 - Peel - Elected.

SENIOR ONTARIO PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT:
Minister of University Affairs (1964.05.14 - 1971.03.01).
Minister of Education (1962.10.25 - 1971.03.01).

PARTY LEADERSHIP:
Candidate for Leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party, February 1971. First ballot: 1st place (out of six candidates) with 548 votes - 33%. Second ballot: 1st place with 595 votes (36%). Third ballot: 1st place with 669 votes (41%). Fourth ballot: Davis defeated Allan Lawrence for Leader by a vote of 812 (51%) to 768 (49%).

Leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party (February 1971 - February 1985). In the 1971 elections, the PC won 78 seats (a gain of 9 seats) and majority governing status. In the 1975 elections, the PC won 51 seats (loss of 27 seats) and minority governing status. In the 1977 elections, the PC won 58 seats (gain of 7 seats) and minority governing status. In the 1981 elections, the PC won 70 seats (a gain of 19 seats) and majority governing status. Davis retired as Leader in February 1985.

Candidate for Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, 1983. Withdrew before the convention.

MISCELLANEOUS:
The youngest Cabinet Minister -- at age 33 -- in Ontario history, 1962.

Unlike most provincial premiers in Canada, Davis strongly supported Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's 1981 plans to patriate the Canadian Constitution from the United Kingdom and add to it a Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Davis's role in the constitutional negotiations of 1981 were pivotal in achieving a compromise that resulted in the passage of the 1982 Constitution.

Canada Special Envoy on Acid Rain, 1985-1986.

Davis played a significant role in the successful 2003 negotiations that merged the federal Progressive Conservatives with the Canadian Alliance to create the Conservative Party of Canada.

WEBSITES: Torys LLP: William G. Davis (Law Firm)