Peterson ministry

The Peterson ministry underwent a significant restructuring following the 1987 Ontario general election, in which the Ontario Liberal Party improved from minority status to a majority, securing 95 out of 130 seats. A significantly larger caucus portended a significantly larger cabinet, and an end to the situation in which so many cabinet members had to helm multiple portfolios.

None of the incumbent cabinet ministers lost their seats in the election, though three were dismissed by Peterson to the backbenches.

There were several instances of ministerial portfolio reorganisation:

• Ministry of Citizenship and Culture and Ministry of Transportation and Communication were reorganised into Ministry of Citizenship, Ministry of Culture and Communication, and Ministry of Transportation.
• Ministry of Northern Development and Mines was divided into Ministry of Northern Development and Ministry of Mines.
• Solicitor General and Minister of Correctional Services was divided into "Solicitor General" and "Minister of Correctional Services".

Thus the number of portfolios increased to 30, as did the number of cabinet members.

There was one instance of a ministerial portfolio reorganisation:

• Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Ministry of Housing was combined into "Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing".

The number of women would fall to five, but at last the Minister Responsible for Women's Issues would for the first time actually be a woman.

Thus, as the election of 1990 approached, the Peterson ministry contained 25 cabinet members in 29 portfolios.

In anticipation of a general economic downturn in North America, Peterson sought to take advantage of polling numbers that were still favouring the Liberals in 1990 and called a snap election, less than three years into the massive majority mandated secured in 1987. At the time the election writ was dropped, the Liberals stood at 50% support in the polls,^[2] and Peterson's personal approval popularity was even higher at 54% due to strong public approval of his role during the negotiation of the Meech Lake accord.^[3] The move was however seen by many as arrogant and opportunistic, and public sentiment turned against the Peterson ministry quickly. A number of prominent members of the ministry, most notably Greg Sorbara and Jim Bradley, were reportedly strongly opposed to the early election call. Sean Conway, a member of Peterson's inner circle, would later acknowledge that most backbench MPPs also opposed the timing of the campaign.

Despite the Liberals retained closed to a third of the popular vote, the Liberal caucus was decimated with a fifty-nine seats net loss. The defeat was so far-reaching that the Premier was defeated in his own constituency by a 8,000-vote margin. In addition to the Premier, the election claimed seven incumbent members and six former members of the Peterson ministry as casualties.

Incumbent ministers

• Richard Patten (Ottawa Centre), Minister of Correctional Services
• Mavis Wilson (Dufferin—Peel), Minister Responsible for Women's Issues
• Ken Black (Muskoka-Georgian Bay), Minister of Tourism and Recreation and Minister Responsible for Anti-Drug Strategy
• Bob Wong (Fort York) Minister of Citizenship and Minister Responsible for Race Relations and the Ontario Human Rights Commission
• Shirley Collins (Wentworth East), minister without portfolio
• Chris Ward (Wentworth North), Minister of Government Services
• Bill Wrye (Windsor—Sandwich), Minister of Transportation

Former ministers

• Ken Keyes (Kingston and the Islands)
• Ed Fulton (Scarborough East)
• Christine Hart (York East)
• Chaviva Hošek (Oakwood)
• Lily Oddie Munro (Hamilton Centre)
• Joan Smith (London South)

Peterson announced his resignation as party leader on the night of the election. The Peterson ministry was formally dissolved three weeks later on October 1, 1990 when the successor Rae ministry took office.

There were 38 people who served in the Peterson ministry.

Eight were women.

At no point was the ministry all-white.