Matt Spoke: Why Ontario needs a new Common Sense Revolution, 30 years later

In June 1995, Ontarians delivered a clear verdict at the ballot box: it was time for common sense to return to government. Under Mike Harris’s leadership, the “Common Sense Revolution” wasn’t just a catchy slogan. It was a bold, principled plan to restore fiscal discipline, reduce the size and scope of government, and reassert the idea that prosperity flows not from Queen’s Park, but from the hard work and ingenuity of Ontario’s people and businesses.

Thirty years later, as we reflect on the legacy of that pivotal election, it’s clear that Ontario once had leaders who were not afraid to make tough choices in defence of conservative principles. And it’s just as clear that today, we are in desperate need of that courage once again.

The path to victory: Harris’ rise

Harris’s ascent to the premiership was marked by a clear and unwavering commitment to conservative principles. As leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, Harris recognized the province’s dire need for fiscal reform and smaller government. His campaign resonated with voters frustrated by high taxes, a ballooning deficit, and what they perceived as inefficient and unaccountable government services.

Among other things, the Common Sense Revolution platform promised to:

• Cut personal income taxes by 30 percent over three years.
• Reduce the size of government by eliminating unnecessary programs and services.
• Implement welfare reforms to encourage employment over dependency.
• Balance the provincial budget within the first term.

These promises were not mere rhetoric. They were a blueprint for action that Harris and his government pursued with determination.

Implementing the revolution: challenges and pushback

Upon taking office, Harris faced significant opposition from labour unions, public sector employees, and advocacy groups. His government’s aggressive approach to reform led to widespread protests and strikes, most notably the 1997 teachers’ strike, when more than 126,000 educators walked out in response to proposed changes in education policy.

Despite the pushback, the Harris government delivered several key policy wins:

• Tax reductions: A 30 percent cut in personal income taxes, which stimulated economic growth and increased consumer confidence.

• Welfare reform: Introduction of the Ontario Works program, requiring able-bodied welfare recipients to participate in employment-related activities. Welfare rolls fell dramatically.

• Government downsizing and efficiency: A reduction in the number of provincial ministries, the consolidation of school boards, and the amalgamation of municipalities, including the creation of the “megacity” of Toronto.

• Privatization: Leasing of Highway 407 to a private consortium and steps toward privatizing other government services to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

These reforms were not without controversy. But they underscored a clear commitment to conservative principles—and a willingness to make difficult decisions for the province’s long-term benefit.

The price of actions deferred

The Harris government achieved much—often in the face of fierce opposition. Yet, like any government, it faced limits: the constraints of political capital, public resistance, and the understandable caution that comes with holding office.

This is not a criticism of Harris or his team. They accomplished more principled reform than any Ontario government before or since. In fact, Harris himself would likely agree there were areas where he would have liked to go further—unfinished business where deeper reforms could have strengthened Ontario for the long term, but that were ultimately not completed for one political reason or another.

Their experience teaches an important lesson: every bold step not taken carries consequences that will echo for a generation.

Because health-care reform remained incomplete, today’s system is overburdened and underperforming. Because education reforms were partial, our schools have drifted from their core purpose of providing children with the knowledge and skills they need while respecting the role of parents. Because the private sector’s role in infrastructure and public services was only cautiously expanded, Ontario now lacks the state capacity and innovation needed to meet the demands of a modern, growing society.

The lesson is clear: when leaders retreat from bold, principled action—whether out of caution, expediency, or fear, or simply because they run out of time—the costs are not paid today. They are paid tomorrow.

And when tomorrow arrives, as it has in 2025, those costs are steep.

2025: A contrast in leadership

Fast forward to 2025. Ontario finds itself at a crossroads. While the province is led by a government elected under a conservative banner, it has largely departed from the principled, reform-driven approach that defined the Harris era.

Today, many of Ontario’s pressing challenges remain unresolved and have worsened, not due to a lack of mandate, but a lack of clarity and follow-through. Consider the following:

• Fiscal (mis)management: Despite early promises of restraint, government spending has ballooned. Efforts to balance the budget have been inconsistent and half-hearted.

• Health-care challenges: Chronic wait times, staff shortages, and lack of systemic reform continue to plague health care. The COVID-19 pandemic presented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink and rebuild the system—but that moment was squandered.

• Housing affordability: The province faces a deepening housing crisis, with insufficient action to increase supply or remove regulatory barriers. Worse still, the government has allowed municipalities to entrench and even worsen development charges and other development restrictions, choking off much-needed housing growth.

• Economic competitiveness: Growth has stalled. High taxes and regulatory burdens discourage investment and innovation. Ontario now ranks behind nearly every U.S. state in GDP per capita—a troubling sign for a province that once led Canada in productivity and prosperity.

• Education decline: Our education system has drifted from its mission of equipping children with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, while parents have seen their voice and influence eroded in shaping their children’s education.

These are not just policy failures. They reflect a broader trend: reactive and risk-averse policymaking.

A call for renewed conservative leadership

The legacy of the Common Sense Revolution serves as a reminder of what principled conservative leadership can achieve. It calls today’s leaders to embrace policies grounded in fiscal responsibility, individual freedom, and efficient governance.

To address some of these current challenges, a conservative government in Ontario must:

• Implement comprehensive tax reform to attract investment and spur economic growth.
• Introduce private-sector partnerships to enhance health-care delivery and reduce wait times.
• Reform and modernize education, aligning outcomes with labour market demands and restoring parents’ influence over their children’s education.
• Overhaul housing policy by removing regulatory hurdles and unlocking supply.
• Streamline regulations to foster a dynamic, competitive economy.

By recommitting to core conservative principles, Ontario can reclaim its place as a leader in prosperity and quality of life.

Conclusion: What will this generation be remembered for?

As we mark 30 years since the Common Sense Revolution, we remember not only the policies, but the leadership.

Harris and his team did not govern to please everyone. They governed to solve problems. They faced critics head-on. They made hard choices. And even their opponents now often concede that their government reshaped Ontario in necessary ways—even when those choices were unpopular.

Today’s provincial government has often opted for caution over conviction. Faced with mounting debt, a failing health-care system, a housing crisis, and stagnant productivity, this government has chosen the path of least resistance: piecemeal policies, delayed decisions, and attempts to placate critics rather than overcome them.

This is not the legacy that Ontario conservatives should aspire to.

Principled leadership earns respect—even from opponents. Timid leadership earns nothing but indifference or, worse, contempt.

The legacy of the Common Sense Revolution reminds us that history remembers boldness, not accommodation. It honours those who act on principle—not those who avoid difficult choices.

It is time for Ontario conservatives to demand a return to that kind of leadership.

Project Ontario is a grassroots political initiative focused on renewing and strengthening conservative leadership in Ontario. It was born from a growing sense among many conservatives that Ontario is at a crossroads and needs a clear, principled vision for the future. Learn more at https://projectontario.ca/