Deputy Premier of Ontario
The deputy premier of Ontario (French : vice-première ministre de l'Ontario ) is a minister of the Crown and senior member of the provincial Executive Council (Cabinet). The office was first created in 1977, and is conferred on the advice of the premier of Ontario . Though the role is seen as informally important, it does not hold formal legal power in its own right, and does not automatically receive any powers in the case of absence or death of a premier.[ 2]
Sylvia Jones is the 12th and current deputy premier of Ontario, assuming office on June 24, 2022. She concurrently serves as the minister of health .[ 3]
History
For much of the province's early history, the position of provincial secretary and registrar of Ontario was the second most powerful position in the Ontario Cabinet . This role diminished by the 1960s, overtaken by the deputy premier in 1977 and abolished in 1985.
To date, every person serving as deputy premier of Ontario has also concurrently held another senior position in the Ontario Cabinet. Bette Stephenson , Robert Nixon , Floyd Laughren , Ernie Eves , Jim Flaherty , and Dwight Duncan were all concurrently provincial treasurer or, as that position was renamed in 1993, minister of Finance .
Christine Elliott , deputy premier from 2018 to 2022, was widow of Jim Flaherty , deputy premier from 2001 to 2002 (who died in 2014).
Deputy premiers of Ontario
Name
Term of office
Tenure
Political party(Ministry)
Note
1
Bob Welch
September 21, 1977
February 8, 1985
7 years, 238 days
PC (Davis )
While Attorney General , Provincial Secretary for Justice , Minister of Culture and Recreation (1977–78), Minister of Energy (1979–83) & Minister Responsible for Women's Issues (1983–85)
February 8, 1985
May 17, 1985
PC (Miller )
While Attorney General
2
Bette Stephenson
May 17, 1985
June 26, 1985
40 days
While Treasurer & Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet
Vacant
June 26, 1985
September 29, 1987
Liberal (Peterson )
3
Robert Nixon
September 29, 1987
October 1, 1990
3 years, 2 days
While Treasurer, Minister of Economics and Minister of Financial Institutions
4
Floyd Laughren
October 1, 1990
June 26, 1995
4 years, 268 days
NDP (Rae )
While Minister of Economics and Treasurer (1990–93) & Minister of Finance (1993-95)
5
Ernie Eves
June 26, 1995
February 8, 2001
5 years, 227 days
PC (Harris )
While Minister of Finance
6
Jim Flaherty
February 8, 2001
April 14, 2002
1 year, 65 days
While Minister of Finance
7
Elizabeth Witmer
April 15, 2002
October 22, 2003
1 year, 190 days
PC (Eves )
While Minister of Education
Vacant
October 23, 2003
September 20, 2006
Liberal (McGuinty )
8
George Smitherman
September 21, 2006
November 9, 2009
2 years, 352 days
While Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (2006–08) & Minister of Energy and Infrastructure (2008–09)
Vacant
September 9, 2009
October 19, 2011
9
Dwight Duncan
October 20, 2011
February 11, 2013 [ 4]
1 year, 114 days
While Minister of Finance & Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet
10
Deb Matthews
February 11, 2013
January 17, 2018
4 years, 340 days
Liberal (Wynne )
While Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (2013–14), President of the Treasury Board (2014–16) & Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development (2016–18)
Vacant
January 17, 2018
June 29, 2018
11
Christine Elliott
June 29, 2018
June 24, 2022
3 years, 360 days
PC (Ford )
While Minister of Health and Long-Term Care (until June 20, 2019) and while Minister of Health (June 20, 2019 – June 24, 2022)
12
Sylvia Jones
June 24, 2022
Present
2 years, 187 days
While Minister of Health (June 24, 2022 – Present)
See also
References