The Premier Files: Bob Rae | The Premier Files

Video Description

Ontario's 21st premier, Bob Rae led the NDP to a surprise win in 1990. It was the party's first-ever, and to date only opportunity to form government in the province. He's remembered for the Social Contract which led to "Rae Days," unpaid days off for the province's public service, in order to save jobs during a recession. He lost his re-election bid in 1995 to Progressive Conservative leader Mike Harris. 0:00 Introduction 0:17 Bob Rae - Ontario's 21st Premier 0:58 Childhood, diplomatic legacy, and family background 4:41 Growing up in Washington – Nixon’s paperboy 5:30 Meeting Nixon years later 7:47 Oxford and mental health journey 10:21 Law school and entering politics 11:22 Becoming a New Democrat 12:41 Federal MP and switch to provincial politics 14:28 Marriage and family life 15:10 Leading the Ontario NDP 16:46 Bill Davis steps down, Frank Miller’s leadership, and the 1985 election 19:14 Parliamentary democracy and minority government 20:24 Political camaraderie in the 1980s 21:12 Choosing to support the Liberals 25:16 The Accord and strategic decision-making 28:15 Stable government and 1987 election 31:59 1990 campaign and polling surprises 34:42 Election night victory 35:10 “Cari amici” and the summer election 36:07 Personal tragedies and political triumph 37:31 Becoming Premier 37:57 Recession, budget secrecy and revenue collapse 41:56 Quebec separatism and constitutional crisis 43:22 Public auto insurance decision 45:31 The Social Contract and Rae Days 49:07 Reflections on the social contract 50:06 Housing and equity achievements 51:24 Eglinton LRT and infrastructure legacy 52:04 Post-premiership accomplishments 54:41 Final reflections on leadership 55:16 Brian Mulroney’s advice 56:22 Conclusion About The Premier Files: This series features candid conversations with former Ontario premiers, spanning four decades of the province's political history. With Steve Paikin, they discuss their lives before, during, and after their time in politics, and they revisit the policies and events that defined their leadership. Featured are David Peterson (Liberal, 1985-1990); Bob Rae (NDP, 1990-1995); Mike Harris (Progressive Conservative, 1995-2002); Ernie Eves (Progressive Conservative, 2002-2003); Dalton McGuinty (Liberal, 2003-2013); Kathleen Wynne (Liberal, 2013-2018).