TVO: Mike Harris

TVO Dept: Ontario s most revered premier was in full flight at a gathering of Queen s Park old-timers this fall as he hurled his rhetorical challenge at those around him. TVO, in honour of Steve Paikin s anniversary , had gathered all of Ontario s living premiers in one place a first and last occasion and a tribute to the universal affection that TVO s star elicits across generations and party lines. Mike Harris, perhaps wisely, chose to participate by video, according to The Star. But it was the dean of the elite club at 83 years old, Ontario s last great Tory premier, Bill Davis, who stole the evening. Despite fighting a respiratory infection, and on strict orders from his doctor to avoid stress, he delighted the crowd with his reminiscences, and later beguiled a smaller group of fans with his acerbic views on Ontario today and can they not pick up the phone!? Each of the veteran pols amused the multi-partisan crowd with the standard self-deprecating anecdotes and gentle jabs at competitors. Bob Rae s Welcome, my fellow New Democrats, followed by, And welcome, too, to my fellow Liberals . . . and to . . . my fellow Red Tories, each line delivered with the pause and exquisite timing of the skilled soft-shoe performer, brought the house down. The event came on the heels of Dalton McGuinty s awkward exit, chased from office by his inability to manage a minority parliament. He smiled gamely through a series of digs at his self-inflicted lame duck status. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.