Dave Cooke

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Dave Cooke (born August 1, 1952 in Windsor, Ontario) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was an NDP member of the provincial legislature from 1977 to 1997, and was a senior cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.

Cooke was educated at the University of Windsor, and was a social worker at the Essex Children's Aid Society in Windsor before entering politics. He served on the Windsor Planning Board in 1974, and was a member of the Windsor Board of Education from 1975 to 1976.

He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the general election of 1977, defeating Liberal Michael MacDougall by over 2,000 votes in the riding of Windsor—Riverside. He was re-elected by greater margins in the elections of 1981, 1985, 1987 and 1990. Cooke defeated future Liberal MP Rick Limoges by almost 6,000 votes in 1987, and served as House Leader of the official opposition from 1987 to 1990.

Unlike most other members of the NDP caucus, Cooke was supportive of Bob Rae's leadership throughout the 1980s. As early as 1981, he had petitioned Rae to run for the leadership of the provincial party. In cabinet, Cooke would become one of Rae's most trusted ministers.

The NDP unexpectedly won a majority government in the 1990 election. Cooke, as one of the party's most senior MPPs, was appointed Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs on October 1, 1990. On July 31, 1991, he was appointed government House Leader and his ministry was restyled as simply the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. Cooke also served as Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet from September 23, 1992 to February 3, 1993.

On February 3, 1993, Cooke was promoted to the high-profile position of Minister of Education, which he retained for the remainder of the Rae government's time in office.

Cooke endorsed the Rae government's establishment of a casino in Windsor as a means of stimulating the city's economy during the recession of the early 1990s. He also strongly opposed cuts to welfare recipients. As education minister, he withdrew support for "de-streaming" (which had been endorsed by Tony Silipo, his predecessor) and endorsed standardized provincial tests.

The NDP lost the 1995 provincial election, although Cooke was re-elected in Windsor—Riverside with a reduced majority. He continued to serve as NDP house leader from 1995 to 1996. In 1996, he endorsed Frances Lankin's unsuccessful bid to replace Rae as party leader.

Cooke resigned from the legislature in 1997, after being appointed to an "Education Improvement Commission" established by the Progressive Conservative government of Mike Harris.

Cooke was a regular member of TVOntario's Studio 2 political discussion panel, and is a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Windsor.