A double batch of Order of Ontario recipients was announced New Year's Day, but one name, in particular, raised the ire of some, with opposition critics saying that former premier Mike Harris was undeserving of the province's most prestigious honour.

Harris, premier of Ontario from 1995 to 2002, headlined a group of 47 individuals who received the honour for the years 2020 and 2019. A double batch of awards was given because the PC government had fallen behind on handing out the honours due to a review of the awards process and was then delayed again by the pandemic.

Harris formed two majority government in the 1990s behind the "Common Sense Revolution" that swept the PCs back to power after a decade in the wilderness. Harris cut income taxes, balanced the budget after six years in power, introduced the Sunshine List and reduced the number of MPPs. He also oversaw tragedies in the death of Dudley George and the Walkerton E. coli deaths, privatized Highway 407 and amalgamated the City of Toronto and other municipalities.

His legacy earned a sharp rebuke from critics who argued he was undeserving of the honour.

NDP MPP Suze Morrison said that she knew hunger as a child due to Harris' policies, and also criticized him for privatizing long-term homes.

There are no less than 8 deaths that I personally lay at the feet of Mike Harris.

Not even counting the many who died in his long term care homes this year.

His actions as premier are directly linked to the deaths of Dudley George and the 7 people who died in Walkerton.

— Suze Morrison (@SuzeMorrison) January 1, 2021

"It's tone-deaf in the current moment," the Toronto Centre MPP told QP Briefing, referring to the devastation at long-term care homes that has seen thousands die. Harris is currently the chair of Chartwell, a major for-profit long-term care company. "There's widespread death and suffering in these homes," she added.

Morrison said that it wasn't surprising to see individuals with PC connections awarded the Order of Ontario, although it is intended as a non-partisan honour. "It's certainly not surprising to see the Doug Ford government prop up and celebrate their insiders and friends," she commented.

The government does not directly select the recipients of the Order of Ontario. Instead, a panel of former recipients makes recommendations to the lieutenant-governor, who approves the selections. Among those with PC connections that the Ford government appointed to the Order of Ontario advisory panel were Paul Godfrey, Julian Fantino and Isabel Bassett.

Harris was among several individuals with PC Party connections who received the honour. Other recipients included former premier Ernie Eves, former PC cabinet minister Bob Runciman, Chair of Goodmans law firm Dale Lastman, former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion, and developers Carlo Fidani and Michael DeGasperis.

Lastman is also the son of former Toronto mayor and PC-aligned Mel Lastman, McCallion endorsed the PCs in the most recent election (and has previously endorsed Liberal governments), Fidani has a nephew who works in the premier's office and DeGasperis was involved in the Vaughan Working Families affair.

Morrison questioned the number of people with PC connections who received the honour, with a special emphasis on Harris. "The reaction I'm getting from folks in my community is that it stinks, particularly the appointment of Mike Harris. We haven't recovered from the Mike Harris legacy."

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca echoed the criticism in a tweet, arguing that with the crisis in long-term care homes now is not the time for such an honour.

Doug Ford is rewarding Chartwell Chair and former Premier Mike Harris with the Order of Ontario. Chartwell is a for-profit nursing home that failed our seniors.

Harris should be getting an inquiry not an award - but @fordnation looks after his friends first and foremost. #onpoli

— Steven Del Duca (@StevenDelDuca) January 2, 2021

Minister Lisa MacLeod pushed back against these criticism and defended the integrity of the Order of Ontario process, which has been in place for more than 30 years.

As a former Minister you should know
1 nominations are open for all Ontarians
2 the Vice Regal is the Chancellor of the Order
3 an independent advisory committee of OO inductees recommends the list to the Vice Regal
4 Governments do not add names outside of independent process https://t.co/o8qCNgr7aG

— Lisa MacLeod (@MacLeodLisa) January 2, 2021

With Harris and Eves poised to receive the honour, every former premier from Bill Davis to Dalton McGuinty will have received the award. For the 2018 slate of awards, former premier McGuinty headlined that year's class.

The only thing shameful about this is that McGuinty and Wynne didn't award the Order of Ontario to Mike Harris and Ernie Eves. https://t.co/wXnS8y2vvY

— Michael Diamond (@mtmdiamond) January 2, 2021

Not to be overlooked are the many recipients of the Order of Ontario who have lived extraordinary lives. This double batch of inductees included a special emphasis on the health-care sector, with the likes of: Joseph Raymond Buncic, Karen Goldenberg, Shana Kelley, Peter Liu, Rosemary Moodie and Marilyn Sonley.

The investiture ceremony is not yet scheduled due to the pandemic. Nominees for the 2021 awards can be submitted up until March 31.

Opposition says awarding Mike Harris the Order of Ontario is ‘tone deaf’

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