Mike Harris

Mike Harris OOnt
Harris in 2014
22nd Premier of Ontario
In office June 26, 1995 – April 14, 2002
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Hal Jackman Hilary Weston James Bartleman
Preceded by	Bob Rae
Succeeded by	Ernie Eves
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
In office May 12, 1990 – March 23, 2002
Preceded by	Andy Brandt (interim)
Succeeded by	Ernie Eves
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Nipissing
In office March 19, 1981 – April 14, 2002
Preceded by	Mike Bolan
Succeeded by	Al McDonald
Personal details
Born	Michael Deane Harris (1945-01-23) January 23, 1945 (age 79) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse(s)	Mary Alyce Coward (m. 1967, div.), Janet Harrison (m. 1974, div.), Laura Maguire (m. 2005)[1]
Relations	2 sons with Janet Harrison, including Mike Harris Jr.

Michael Deane Harris OOnt (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 (PC Party) from 1990 to 2002. During his time as party leader, he guided the Ontario PC Party toward Blue Toryism, advocating for the "Common Sense Revolution", his government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and budget cuts.

Born in Toronto, Harris grew up in North Bay and worked as a ski instructor and schoolteacher before becoming a school board trustee in 1974. In 1981, he became a member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the riding of Nipissing. He became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in the 1990 leadership election. That same year, a provincial election was called in which Harris carried 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 provincial election. He later led the party to a second majority in 1999.

During his tenure as premier, Harris emphasized the Common Sense Revolution. Although his policy of lower taxes grew the deficit, his deep cuts to social services, health care, education, and infrastructure spending were enough to eliminate the deficit and balance the budget in 1999. The Harris Government also faced the 1997 Ontario teachers' strike and gained criticism for its handling of the Walkerton E. coli outbreak and the Ipperwash crisis.

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.^[2] Despite speculation about a potential foray into federal politics, Harris declined to run in the 2004 Conservative Party leadership election.^[3]