Former Ontario Premier Bill Davis has died at age 92
Davis was Ontario's 18th premier
Former Ontario Premier Bill Davis has died at the age of 92.
“After spending much family time in his favourite of all places, his cottage in Georgian Bay, he died of natural causes at home in Brampton, surrounded by members of his family,” a statement from the family said. “He was 92 years young.”
Davis was premier from 1971 to 1985.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 1959 and served as minister of education and minister of universities before becoming premier.
His minority government was brought down in a non-confidence motion in 1985 by the Liberals and NDP, which put the brakes on a 42-year period where the Progressive Conservatives led the province.
Premier Doug Ford tweeted his condolences.
My deepest condolences to the family of @WilliamGDavisPC, Ontario’s 18th premier. He served the people of Ontario with dignity and class. We will be lowering flags to half-mast across the province in his honour.
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) August 8, 2021
Davis kept his hand in politics, backing Christine Elliott’s 2014 bid to become Ontario PC Party leader and he supported Patrick Brown’s bid to be mayor of Brampton in 2018.
His family says a private funeral will be held, followed by a “celebration of his life and many contributions to Ontario and Canada,” at a later date.
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