As has been noted in recent years by commentators such as my friend Steve Paikin from TVO, former Ontario Premier David Peterson’s decision to call an early election on this date in 1990, was far from the mistake some still claim it was. He was riding high in the polls, had led a progressive and ground-breaking government in Canada’s largest province in since 1985, and, had played a stellar and pan-Canadian role – in the manner of Ontario Premiers before him like John Robarts and William Davis – as Canada attempted to renew its constitution between 1987 and 1990.  Premier Peterson put nation above party in June 1990 when he generously offered to give up some of Ontario’s Senate seats to help ensure the passage of the Meech Lake Accord. Almost immediately, as the summer of 1990 continued, the election called, Peterson, in many ways, became the lightening rod for Ontarians shaken up by Meech Lake and other issues like the recently concluded Free Trade Agreement with the United States. And then the unthinkable – even to him – happened and Bob Rae and his New Democrats won a majority government, defeating Peterson's Liberals. But then, as today, David Peterson can look back on a remarkable and positive legacy of which any provincial Premier would be proud to have. Full disclosure: Both my future wife and I, just out of university, served as political assistants in Mr. Peterson’s government. And we remain proud to have done so 31 years after the Peterson government ended. And, over the years since, Mr. Peterson has been a mentor a friend to us both. Alison and I are privileged by his friendship. caption id="attachment_576495" align="alignleft" width="287" Former Ontario Premier David Peterson/caption Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist.  He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy.  A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.