19 Facts About Dave Cooke

Dave Cooke was born on August 1,1952 and is a former politician in Ontario, Canada.

Dave Cooke was an NDP member of the provincial legislature from 1977 to 1997, and was a senior cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.

Dave Cooke attended the University of Windsor and graduated with a degree in social work.

Dave Cooke worked as a social worker at the Essex Children's Aid Society in Windsor.

Dave Cooke served on the Windsor Planning Board in 1974 and was a member of the Windsor Board of Education from 1975 to 1976.

Dave Cooke was re-elected by greater margins in the elections of 1981,1985,1987 and 1990.

Dave Cooke defeated future Liberal MP Rick Limoges by almost 6,000 votes in 1987.

Unlike most other members of the NDP caucus, Dave Cooke was supportive of Bob Rae's leadership throughout the 1980s.

Dave Cooke became the party's whip in 1985 and acted as the health critic.

Dave Cooke served as Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet from September 23,1992 to February 3,1993.

Dave Cooke later announced that he would work to factor in the costs of legitimate building renovations.

On February 3,1993, Dave 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.

Dave 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.

Dave Cooke continued to serve as NDP house leader from 1995 to 1996.

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

Dave Cooke was a regular member of TVOntario's Studio 2 political discussion panel.

Dave Cooke was head of the board of governors at the University of Windsor until 2009.

In February, 2015, Dave Cooke was named Chair of Ontario's Education Quality and Accountability Office.

Dave Cooke became a member of the EQAO Board of Directors in 2008.