1 of 1- MJ Vancouver
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Re: Former Premier Bill Davis Dies at 92
There would not have been a TVO without him, and just as importantly TVO may have been privatized under Mike Harris had Davis not stepped in.
RIP.
- paterson1
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Re: Former Premier Bill Davis Dies at 92
Davis accomplished much in his political career. Many big projects and changes that resonate today. As education minister he reorganized the whole structure of education in the province and simplified it with fewer school boards and trustees. Ontario had 3,676 school boards in 1962, and under Davis he reduced the number to 192 by 1967. He founded the whole community college system. In a few years Ontario had built over 20 new community colleges. All of the original colleges have grown and expanded and are flourishing today, many with international students. He reorganized universities and founded Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Trent and Brock Universities, and amalgamated the colleges to form the University of Guelph. As education minister and premier he vastly increased the amount the province spent on education, and healthcare.
In addition to TVO, Ontario Place, The Science Centre, Davis expanded the highway system in the province and Ontario. His was the first government in North America to have a Ministry of the Environment. An early act as premier was the cancellation of the Spadina Expressway of which he was criticized as much as praised. His final act as premier was fully funding Catholic schools which again he was equally given criticism and praise.
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Thread Starter- turkeytop
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Re: Former Premier Bill Davis Dies at 92
I've been a card carrying NDP member and trade Union activist all my life. But I had a great deal of respect and admiration for Bill Davis. He was one of the last decent Conservatives.
We always say jokingly that we would vote for Davis today.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- ig
- Iain Grant
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Re: Former Premier Bill Davis Dies at 92
He was truly a statesman and one of the greats, but each time I'm stuck on the Allen trying to get anywhere downtown, I must admit, he crosses my mind. For all his vision, his Forest Hill friends certainly led him to completely screw up traffic in the west end of the city.
Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change.
- Dale Patterson
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Re: Former Premier Bill Davis Dies at 92
Bill Davis was one of those rare politicians who was respected on both sides of the aisle. We need more leaders like him. I think he would have made a good prime minister.
"Life without echo is really no life at all." - Dan Ingram
- turkeytop
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Re: Former Premier Bill Davis Dies at 92
Sure, he was pro-business. But he had the good political sense to realize, when you give something to business, you have to give a little to the other side too.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- paterson1
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Re: Former Premier Bill Davis Dies at 92
Davis was also largely responsible for getting Skydome built. During the Grey Cup in 1982 at Exhibition Stadium, a soaked crowd started to chant "we want a dome.." The rain had been pouring down during most of the game. Davis who was a life long football fan, and played football through university, was in the crowd. The over 7 million people watching the game on television also heard the chant and within months Davis announced the formation of a committee to explore building a dome stadium in Toronto. When the Skydome was opened in June 1989, it brought the end to any more rain delays or cancellation of games for the Argos or Jays. And most important, the roof worked!
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Thread Starter- Dale Patterson
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Re: Former Premier Bill Davis Dies at 92
My Grade 11 high school class went to Maple Leaf Gardens to watch the Progressive Conservative convention in 1971. Bill Davis won the PC leadership, defeating Allan Lawrence by a mere 44 votes on the final ballot. It was interesting to see politics in action.
"Life without echo is really no life at all." - Dan Ingram
- Tq345
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Re: Former Premier Bill Davis Dies at 92
Growing up as a kid in the 70s, even though I had very little interest in politics, it was nice to know that Pierre Trudeau was always prime minister and Bill Davis was always premier. The consistency was quite comforting. RIP Mr. Davis.
- paterson1
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Re: Former Premier Bill Davis Dies at 92
TVO's Steve Paikin became good friends with Bill Davis and wrote a bio on the ex-premier titled Bill Davis: Nation Builder and Not So Bland After All. The title of the book is in reference to Davis' famous line about the criticism of him and his government being so boring, to which Davis said..".Hey, bland works." In fact as the book attests Davis was far from boring and got a lot done in his career.
The TVO studio where Paikin produces his TV program The Agenda is named after Davis. As Education Minister Bill Davis founded TV Ontario, which began broadcasting on September 27, 1970. Back then the education channel was called the Ontario Education Communications Authority (OECA). OECA still runs TVO to this day.
Here is an interesting article Steve wrote about premier Bill a few days ago. Lots of interesting tid- bits on the era and Davis. This article from TVO.
Last edited by paterson1 (August 10, 2021 8:33 am)
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