The Tories under Eves
March 23, 2002: Ernie Eves elected leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. The Tories have been in power under Mike Harris since 1995.
April 19: Ontario court ruling stops the sale of Hydro One to private investors. Mr. Harris had announced the sale in 2001.
April 25: Mr. Eves says that he will go ahead with sale of Hydro One.
Former Ontario premier Mike Harris hoists the arm of newly elected leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party Ernie Eves (Frank Gunn/CP)
May 1: The price of power, capped at 4.3 cents a kilowatt for 10 years, rises.
May 7: Mr. Eves says all options on table for Hydro One's future.
May 9: Throne Speech promises money for education, hospitals.
June 5: Government fires board of directors at Hydro One, including president and CEO Eleanor Clitheroe, after reports of lavish spending.
June 12: Mr. Eves cancels plans to sell all of Hydro One, saying government will retain control and sell up to 49 per cent of its interest.
June 17: Budget delays cuts in personal and corporate taxes, contrary to Tories' Taxpayer Protection Act.
Aug. 17 and 27: Education Minister Elizabeth Witmer announces supervisors will take over the Ottawa-Carleton, Toronto and Hamilton-Wentworth school boards.
Oct. 2: Liberals reveal that tourism minister Cam Jackson billed taxpayers more than $104,000 in sometimes questionable expenses over two years. Mr. Jackson resigns from cabinet.
Nov. 11: Mr. Eves ends experiment with competitive electricity market after consumers revolt over higher prices; caps price at 4.3 cents a kilowatt hour.
Dec. 10: Report on education funding tells government to increase spending on schools by at least $1.8-billion.
Dec. 19: Coroner's jury looking into August, 2001, death of a pregnant woman banned from receiving welfare says government's regulations are too harsh.
Jan. 20, 2003: Mr. Eves announces government will not sell any shares of Hydro One.
March 20: Mr. Eves announces tax credits for parents with children in private schools.
March 26: Mr. Eves declares province-wide health emergency as officials deal with onslaught of severe acute respiratory syndrome.
March 27: Education Minister Janet Ecker produces budget -- at an auto-parts plant -- promising tax breaks for seniors, but critics point to unrealistic assumptions for revenue.
April 29: Mr. Eves announces $128-million SARS recovery plan.
April 30: Throne Speech promises tax cuts, end to mandatory retirement at 65, and training of more doctors and nurses.
May 7: Dominion Bond Rating Service says province is running a deficit of at least $1.9-billion.
May 16: Tory election platform promises tax breaks for mortgage holders, a ban on teachers' strikes and removal of the homeless from streets and parks.
June 5: The Globe and Mail reveals that environment minister Chris Stockwell charged up to $10,000 for a family vacation in Paris to agency under his direction, Ontario Power Generation.
July 25: Integrity Commission criticizes holiday spending. Mr. Stockwell leaves politics.
Aug. 8: Reports say delivering the budget at the auto-parts plant cost taxpayers $206,000.
Aug. 11: The Globe reports Tory cabinet has authorized $800-million in cuts to government spending.
Aug. 14: Blackout. Ontario loses all its electricity. Mr. Eves declares state of emergency.
Aug. 22: State of emergency ends. Tory campaign team orders up the election buses.
Aug. 25: Consumers warned not to eat meat from an Aylmer packing plant under provincial investigation for several weeks.
Aug. 29: Integrity Commissioner finds Cam Jackson's expense claims "reasonable and appropriate."
