Bill Davis: Nation Builder, and Not So Bland After All

By Steve Paikin

2016 Ontario Historical Society Donald Grant Creighton Award — Winner
A National Post Bestseller, The Hill Times: Best Books of 2016, 2016 Speaker's Book Award — Shortlisted

The first authorized biography of Bill Davis, the enigmatic Ontario premier who carried on a Tory dynasty, but was also a crucial Trudeau supporter.

A biography of one of Ontario’s most important premiers, who, despite having been out of public life for more than thirty years, is remembered fondly by many as the father of the community college system, TVO, OISE, and was indispensable in repatriating the Canadian Constitution with an accompanying Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Before he became premier, Davis was perhaps the most important education minister in Ontario history, responsible for the creation of the community college system and TVOntario. As premier, he went on to lead Ontario through buoyant and recessionary economic times, leaving a legacy Ontarians continue to enjoy. Now 87, Davis still lives on Main Street in his beloved Brampton.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dundurn
• Release date: Oct 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781459731769

Steve Paikin

Steve Paikin is anchor of The Agenda with Steve Paikin, TVO’s flagship current affairs program since 2006. He has written four previous books on politics, including Paikin and the Premiers. Paikin has spent more than 30 years in journalism, 20 of them at Ontario’s provincial broadcaster. He lives in Toronto.

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Reviews for Bill Davis

[maggieflo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bill DavisThis is very well written and researched by Steve Paikin who is the host of TVO's, The Agenda. I learned a lot about William Grenville Davis, the 18th Premier of Ontario, about Ontario politics and its history.What I'm left with is the notion that Bill Davis is a "progressive" conservative in the true sense and that he cares very deeply about people, family and politics. He projected a demeanour of blandness but was able to successfully run several majority governments. He was a politician in an era when true engagement accomplished much more than committees and respect for your opponents was not a bad thing. His early personal life is on display when he is widowed with four young children, just as he is seeking to establish his political career. Fortunately, he meets and marries his current wife Kathleen McKay.Among his accomplishments is the Ontario community college system, the creation of TV Ontario, new universities, funding for Catholic schools past grade 10, bilingualism in provincial courts where required, the cancellation of the Spadina expressway, and more. On the federal stage he played a significant role in repatriating the Canadian constitution for its 1982 signing. He is an extremely modest, kind and generous man who loves sports, his family and friends. Many politicians at all levels hold him in high regard because of his sound advice, generosity and humour. He was not impressed with the 3Hs....Stephen Harper, Tim Hudak and Mike Harris. Their brand of conservatism was mean and vindictive. Even though I enjoyed the book, I will likely still never vote conservative as the current candidates are not progressive. Davis is now 87 years old and this is the first and only biography of the man. It is a very readable book.