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Between 1943 and 1985, the party built up a political apparatus that became known as the Big Blue Machine. During much of this time the party was very centrist, ofting running to the left of the Ontario Liberal Party. This reached its hieght under Bill Davis, a Red Tory who was premier of the province between 1971 and 1985.
The Conservatives were reduced to a minority government in 1985 under Frank Miller which was defeated within weeks by a Motion of No Confidence in the provincial legislature after the Ontario New Democratic Party of Bob Rae reached an agreement with David Peterson's Liberals allowing the latter to form a minority government with Peterson as Premier of Ontario. When the Liberal-NDP Accord expired in 1987 and an election was held the Tories were reduced to third place in the Ontario legislature a position they failed to improve upon in the 1990 election under new leader Mike Harris
In 1995, Mike Harris catapulted his party from third place to an election victory, running on a "Common Sense Revolution" platform and defeating the NDP government of Bob Rae. He won a second majority in 1999. Harris resigned in 2002 and former finance minister Ernie Eves became premier. In the general election held on October 2, 2003, the PC Party was defeated by the Liberals led by Dalton McGuinty.
Recent PC policies have included lower taxes, increased privatization of services and a reduction of provincial debt. The party has been criticized on issues such as health care, the environment and education as well as a five billion dollar budget deficit left by the party in its last year in government.
In early 2004, Eves announced that he intends to step down as leader and would like his successor in place by the fall. Jim Flaherty, the leading contenter to succeed Eves, has said he would like to see the party drop the prefix Progressive from its name.
++Progressive Conservatives as of 1942
See also:
Leaders of the Conservative Party of Ontario
(a leadership election to replace Ernie Eves will occur later in 2004)