Local connection to a new study on Canada's Best and Worst Premiers since 1981

Ontario’s Premier from 1995 to 2002, who was also Nipissing’s MPP from 1981 to 2002, has been deemed the Best Premier in a performance review of 80 Canadian Premiers since 1981.

The new Vancouver-based interactive think tank Aha! says Mike Harris was tops in the study.

Officials ranked the Canadian Premiers using 11 fiscal and economic outcomes like job growth, balanced budgets and business investment.

The top current-serving Premier is Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall while the study says Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne is last.

“This study can serve as a reference guide to the federal election,” said co-author Dr. Mark Milke, policy analyst, author and political scientist, “since three decades of evidence shows there is a close link between premiers’ party affiliation and what they achieve in office.” 

In addition to the report, a free set of premier playing cards is available at aha.world, with face values equal to each premier’s ranking; Harris for example is the ace of spades and Marois is the two of clubs. Website visitors can collect and share the cards on social media.