Ontario Liberal Party leadership election, 1982

The Ontario Liberal Party leadership election, 1982, was held on February 22, 1982 to replace Stuart Smith who stepped down as leader after the 1981 provincial election. Smith resigned his seat a month before the convention to accept a federal appointment. David Peterson, who had lost against Smith in 1978, was the early front-runner and he won the election on the second ballot with 55% of the vote. Peterson went on to become Premier in 1985, leading the Liberals to power after 42 years of Conservative rule.

Background

Stuart Smith had been leader since 1976. He led the party through two elections. Although he was leader of the opposition in a minority government after the 1977 election, the Liberals failed to make gains in the 1981 election when the Tories regained their majority status. Smith announced his decision to resign on September 5, 1981. Speculation about possible successors included Jim Breithaupt, David Peterson and Patrick Reid.^[1] The race quickly heated up when five days later, John Sweeney a Kitchener MPP announced his intention to seek the party leadership.^[2] Fellow MPP Jim Breithaupt announced his candidacy a day later.^[3]

Sweeney, a former teacher who was elected in 1975, served as the party's education critic. Sweeney held strong views on abortion and had sponsored a private member's bill in 1978 to reduce the number of abortions performed in the province. He was also a member of the Council of Mind Abuse, a group formed to fight mind-indoctrination techniques by cults. Fellow member Sean Conway said that Sweeney would appeal to the "Catholic conservative constituency within the Liberal party." Sweeney disagreed saying that he was actually a middle of the road politician. He said, "Because I have some firm moral positions doesn't mean I am to the right." He said that if elected leader he would seek to tighten the restrictions on abortion performed in the province.^[2]

Breithaupt, a lawyer who was elected in 1967, was the party's justice critic. He was portrayed by the media as a rational politician who favoured reason over passion. He said, "I've not seen that as a fault... it is just the way I am. I think I can do the job when it has to be done." He said that he would focus on a reorganization of the party's riding associations and a campaign to pay off the party's election debt.^[3]

On September 19, the Liberal party announced that they would hold a convention on the weekend of February 19-21, 1982 to choose a new leader.^[4]

Convention

Peterson's convention speech was carefully rehearsed. He wanted the party to move towards centre and stressed Liberal values on social programs. While not very inspiring, it was seen as 'statesmanlike' and effective. After the first ballot Sweeney and Briethaupt withdrew without endorsing anybody. Peterson won on the second ballot with 55%. In his acceptance speech Peterson said that he would move party to the 'vibrant middle, the radical centre', and stressed economic growth as a way to increase support for social services. Observers from the other party's felt he was trying to move the Liberal party more to the right away from priorities that Stuart Smith promoted.^[5]

Aftermath

By the end of 1982 the party had paid off election debt and was working on long-term debt. Peterson performed well as opposition leader and was popular in the press. The party started to use him as a label rather than Liberal referring to 'Davd Peterson's Ontario'. A by-election loss to the NDP was attributed to dislike of Federal Liberals.^[5] In three short years, Peterson led the party out of the political wilderness to become Premier of Ontario, the first Liberal leader to do so in 42 years.

Ballot results

     = Eliminated from next round

     = Withdrew nomination

     = Winner

References