Mike Harris
Mike Harris
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Mike Harris is the common name used to refer to Robert William Alexander Harris, 18th Prime Minister of Canada.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: December 23, 1945
Died: December 25, 2021
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Canadian politician and lawyer.
Early Life and Background
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Mike Harris was born in Toronto, Ontario, on December 23, 1945, to a family of modest means. His father worked as an insurance agent, and his mother was a homemaker. Harris grew up in a small bungalow in the suburb of Etobicoke. He developed an interest in politics at a young age and was an active member of his local Conservative Party Youth movement.
Major Accomplishments
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Harris's early career in law began as a practising lawyer before entering politics. In 1981, he won his first election to the Ontario Legislative Assembly, representing the riding of Nipissing East. Harris quickly rose through the ranks and became Leader of the Opposition in 1990.
In 1995, Harris led the Progressive Conservative Party to a historic majority government victory, winning 81 seats out of 130. As Premier, he implemented significant reforms aimed at reducing the size and cost of government. Notably, his 'Common Sense Revolution' included measures such as freezing taxes for four years and cutting welfare rolls by more than half.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Harris's notable policies include:
Implementing the 'Wynne-Whitney' healthcare reform package in 1996, which aimed to reduce wait times and improve patient care.
Launching an inquiry into the Walkerton water crisis, which led to significant improvements in drinking water safety across the province.
Impact and Legacy
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Harris's tenure as Premier had a lasting impact on Ontario politics. His commitment to fiscal responsibility and government reform set a new standard for future leaders.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Mike Harris is widely quoted and remembered due to his unwavering dedication to reducing the size and cost of government, as well as his efforts to improve healthcare services in Ontario. His leadership during the Walkerton water crisis inquiry cemented his reputation as a leader who prioritizes public safety above all else.
Harris's time in office was marked by significant reforms that have had lasting effects on the province.
Quotes by Mike Harris
The Harris government pulled off a clever trick retaining all power while creating the illusion of relinquishing a substantial amount of it.
If you own an establishment, you should be able to decide if you have it or not. That's part of living in a free country.
I'm running because border security and illegal immigration have not been effectively, key word effectively, addressed by our current governor.
It's very exciting. About two weeks ago, we had a sit-down with the team and talked about what we needed to change, and by everybody talking it made a difference. We went into the game (last Friday) knowing we had to handle our own business, and I just had a feeling West was going to upset (Briggs). Everyone just broke down in tears, and there was a lot of laughter.
It's important to get fresh ideas and fresh blood into these committees across the board.
Then the company will be on a solid financial footing. It'll have a very solid majority-control shareholder who has substantial resources, so this company can grow.
It wasn't our best effort unfortunately. We made too many mistakes against a really good team. You can't afford to make mistakes against Wayne and we made several..