Political icon returns

Bill Davis says politics ain’t like it used to be.

Davis, 81, should know.

As one of the longest-serving premiers in Ontario history, holding the reins from 1971 to 1985, he’s watched the political landscape degenerate to a point where there’s just no respect or honour between candidates anymore.

In Thunder Bay this weekend to receive an honorary doctor of law degree from Lakehead University during the school’s annual convocation, Davis said one of his key message to graduates is to make sure to give back to society – and there’s no finer way than political service.

But, he added, he’d like to see the next generation turn back the clock a bit.

“They’ll also have some sense, I hope, that political life is an important opportunity, but our politics should become more civilized. They have become more confrontational, which I regret. I could fight with Stephen Lewis, Bob Rae and Robert Nixon, but we could go out and have dinner together after. I’d like to see those days return,” Davis said Friday night, still curious as ever, stopping guests to question them on their way into Lakehead’s annual chancellor’s dinner, where he was a guest of honour.

A lawyer, Davis first entered the political ring in 1959, when he was elected to the Ontario legislature, quickly rising up the ranks of then premier John Robarts’s government.

In 1962 he was appointed education minister, and while in charge of the portfolio, helped oversee the start of Ontario’s community college system, including Confederation College in 1967.

He was also minister of university affairs from 1964 to 1971, during which time Lakehead University got its charter.

If that wasn’t enough, he also helped establish TVOntario in 1970, giving life to the province’s education network.

He was a natural choice to succeed Robarts, though only managed to win the leadership by defeating Allan Lawrence by 44 votes,  rival Darcy McKeough fell off the ballot and told his followers to support Davis.

As premier, Davis took a business-like approach to government, but by the mid-‘70s voters were split, leading to minorities in 1975 and 1977.

Davis regained his majority in 1981, and promptly joined the constitutional debate of the day, going against most of his fellow provincial premiers by supporting prime minister Pierre Trudeau’s plan to repatriate the Constitution from the United Kingdom.

He played a pivotal role in the decision to ultimately pass the 1982 Constitution.

Three decades later, he’s still as feisty as ever, and proclaims fond memories of Thunder Bay, long before Port Arthur and Fort William merged.

In fact it seems that at every important milestone in the city’s history, Davis was here.

“I recall coming here to see the beginning of Lakehead in 1965, that’s how far back I go. I was here when you built a ski jump, I was here for (the opening of) the Fort (William Historical Park) and I was here when the Queen came and your mayor welcomed her in an unusual fashion,” he said, referring to Walter Asseff’s infamous pat on the behind of Queen Elizabeth II in 1973.

“So I have some great memories of what was Fort William and Thunder Bay. And I was here when the debate went on about the naming of the combined municipalities. It’s a great community.”

Davis has been honoured with degrees from eight Ontario universities, three community colleges and three educational institutions around the globe.