For much of the province's early history, the position of
provincial secretary and registrar of Ontario was the second most powerful position in the
Ontario Cabinet. This role diminished by the 1960s, overtaken by the deputy premier in 1977 and abolished in 1985. To date, every person serving as deputy premier of Ontario has also concurrently held another senior position in the Ontario Cabinet.
Bette Stephenson,
Robert Nixon,
Floyd Laughren,
Ernie Eves,
Jim Flaherty, and
Dwight Duncan were all concurrently
provincial treasurer or, as that position was renamed in 1993,
minister of Finance. One deputy premier later became premier, but averted a direct succession: Former deputy premier
Ernie Eves defeated then current deputy premier
Jim Flaherty in the
2002 Progressive Conservative leadership election, which determined the 23rd premier.
Christine Elliott, deputy premier from 2018 to 2022, was widow of Jim Flaherty, deputy premier from 2001 to 2002 (who died in 2014). ==Deputy premiers of Ontario==