Veteran Ontario MPP Ernie Eves was elected his province’s Tory leader on this date in 2002. He was replacing Mike Harris who had stepped down after receiving back-to-back majority mandates from voters in Canada’s largest province. Under Harris, Eves had served as both Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance.
Eves officially became Premier of Ontario on April 15, 2002. His time, however, in the corner office on the second floor at Queen’s Park was short. He led his party into the 2003 election, but was defeated by Dalton McGuinty and his Ontario Liberals. The former Premier left public life soon after.
