View source for Bob Rae

{{Short description|Canadian politician and diplomat (born 1948)}}
{{for-multi|people named Robert Rae|Robert Rae (disambiguation)|the similarly named American filmmaker|Bob Ray|the American comedy duo|Bob and Ray}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Honourable]]
| name                = Bob Rae
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|CC|OOnt|ECO|KC|size=100%}}
| image               = Bob Rae 2019.jpg
| alt                 = 
| caption             = Rae in 2019
| office1             = Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations
| order1              = 25th
| term_start1         = August 1, 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvo.org/article/another-mission-for-ontarios-one-time-boy-wonder |title=Another mission for Ontario's one-time boy wonder |website=[[TVOntario]] |first=Steve |last=Paikin |date=July 13, 2020 |access-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026073101/https://www.tvo.org/article/another-mission-for-ontarios-one-time-boy-wonder |url-status=live }}</ref>
| term_end1           = November 17, 2025
| primeminister1      = [[Justin Trudeau]]<br />[[Mark Carney]]
| predecessor1        = [[Marc-André Blanchard]]
| successor1          = [[David Lametti]]
| office2             = [[List of presidents and vice-presidents of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court|Vice-President of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court]]
| term_start2         = 2021
| term_end2           = 2023
| appointer2          = [[International Criminal Court#Assembly|Assembly of States Parties]]
| predecessor2        = Michal Mlynár
| successor2          = Michael Kanu
| office3             = Interim [[Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada|Leader of the Liberal Party]]
| term_start3         = May 25, 2011
| term_end3           = April 14, 2013
| predecessor3        = [[Michael Ignatieff]]
| successor3          = Justin Trudeau
| office4             = Premier of Ontario
| order4              = 21st
| term_start4         = October 1, 1990
| term_end4           = June 26, 1995
| monarch4            = [[Elizabeth II]]
| lieutenant_governor4 = {{plainlist|
* [[Lincoln Alexander]]
* [[Hal Jackman]]
}}
| predecessor4        = [[David Peterson]]
| successor4          = [[Mike Harris]]
| office5             = Leader of the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]]
| term_start5         = February 7, 1982
| term_end5           = June 22, 1996
| predecessor5        = [[Michael Cassidy (Canadian politician)|Michael Cassidy]]
| successor5          = [[Howard Hampton]]
| office6             = [[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Opposition of Ontario]]
| term_start6         = September 10, 1987
| term_end6           = October 1, 1990
| predecessor6        = [[Larry Grossman (politician)|Larry Grossman]]
| successor6          = [[Robert Nixon (politician)|Robert Nixon]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Parliamentary constituencies
 |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| parliament7         = Canadian
| riding7             = [[Toronto Centre (federal electoral district)|Toronto Centre]]
| term_start7         = March 17, 2008
| term_end7           = July 31, 2013
| predecessor7        = [[Bill Graham (Canadian politician)|Bill Graham]]
| successor7          = [[Chrystia Freeland]]
| office8             = [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Canada)|Member of Provincial Parliament]] <br />for [[York South (Ontario provincial electoral district)|York South]]
| term_start8         = November 4, 1982
| term_end8           = February 29, 1996
| predecessor8        = [[Donald C. MacDonald|Donald MacDonald]]
| successor8          = [[Gerard Kennedy]]
| parliament9         = Canadian
| riding9             = [[Toronto—Danforth (federal electoral district)|Broadview—Greenwood]]<br /> [[Broadview (federal electoral district)|Broadview]] (1978–1979)
| term_start9         = October 16, 1978
| term_end9           = May 2, 1982
| predecessor9        = [[John Gilbert (Canadian politician)|John Gilbert]]
| successor9          = [[Lynn McDonald]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| birth_name          = Robert Keith Rae
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1948|8|2}}<ref name=ce>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-keith-bob-rae|title=Bob Rae|encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]]|access-date=September 9, 2019|archive-date=January 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106220110/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-keith-bob-rae|url-status=live}}, engl. or french</ref>
| birth_place         = [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] (1968; 2006–present)<br />[[New Democratic Party|New Democratic]]<br />(1974–1998)
| otherparty          = [[Ontario New Democratic Party|Ontario New Democratic]] (1974–1998)
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Arlene Perly Rae|Arlene Perly]]|Feb. 23, 1980}}
| children            = 3
| father              = [[Saul Rae]]
| relatives           = [[Jackie Rae]] (uncle), [[John A. Rae]] (brother)
| alma_mater          = [[University of Toronto]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])<br />[[Balliol College, Oxford]] ([[Bachelor of Philosophy|BPhil]])
| profession          = {{hlist|Lawyer|academic}}
| website             = {{URL|https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2020/07/06/honourable-bob-rae|}}
}}

'''Robert Keith Rae'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Bob-Rae(14188) |title=The Honourable Bob Rae |access-date=November 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224154352/http://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Bob-Rae(14188) |archive-date=December 24, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (born August 2, 1948)<ref name = bionote>{{cite web |title=Biographical notes – Bob Rae |date=October 23, 2017 |url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2017/10/23/biographical-notes-bob-rae |access-date=20 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625102506/https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2017/10/23/biographical-notes-bob-rae |archive-date=25 Jun 2021 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref> is a Canadian politician and diplomat who served as the [[Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations]] from 2020 to 2025.<ref name="un">{{Cite web|last=Tasker|first=John Paul|date=6 July 2020|title=Bob Rae named Canadian ambassador to the United Nations|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bob-rae-un-ambassador-1.5638840|website=CBC News|access-date=July 6, 2020|archive-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706171539/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bob-rae-un-ambassador-1.5638840|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=jus>{{cite news |title=CBC Former justice minister David Lametti named Canada's UN ambassador |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/david-lametti-canada-un-rep-1.7637462 |access-date=September 18, 2025 |work=CBC News |date=September 18, 2025}}</ref> Rae previously served as the 21st [[premier of Ontario]] from 1990 to 1995, leader of the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]] from 1982 to 1996, and [[Interim leader (Canada)|interim leader]] of the [[Liberal Party of Canada]] from 2011 to 2013. Between 1978 and 2013, he was elected 11 times to [[Government of Canada|federal]] (Broadview, Broadview-Greenwood, Toronto Centre) and [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|provincial]] (York South) [[parliaments]].<ref name="bionote"/> Since December 11, 2025, Rae has been serving as the Visitor of [[Massey College, Toronto|Massey College]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BOB RAE APPOINTED VISITOR OF MASSEY COLLEGE |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/markets/markets-news/Newswire.ca/36579192/bob-rae-appointed-visitor-of-massey-college/}}</ref>

Rae was a [[New Democratic Party]] (NDP) Member of Parliament from 1978 to 1982. He then moved to provincial politics, serving as leader of the Ontario NDP from February 7, 1982, to June 22, 1996. After leading his party to victory in the [[1990 Ontario general election|1990 provincial election]] he served as the [[List of premiers of Ontario|21st]] [[Premier of Ontario]] from October 1, 1990, to June 26, 1995, and was the first person to have led a provincial NDP government east of [[Manitoba]].  While in office, he brought forward initiatives which were unpopular with traditional NDP supporters, such as the [[Social Contract (Ontario)|Social Contract]]. Rae's government was defeated in the [[1990 Ontario general election|1995 provincial election]]. His subsequent disagreement with the leftward direction of the NDP led him to resign his membership.

In 2006, he joined the Liberals; he had previously been a Liberal in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 2006, Rae was a candidate for the [[2006 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|leadership]] of the Liberals, finishing in third place on the third ballot. He returned to the [[House of Commons of Canada]] on March 31, 2008, as a Liberal MP after winning a [[2008 Canadian federal by-elections|March 17, 2008 by-election]], holding the riding that had previously been held by Liberal [[Bill Graham (Canadian politician)|Bill Graham]].  He was re-elected in the [[2008 Canadian federal election|2008 general election]]. Rae ran again as a candidate for the [[2009 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|party leadership]] but withdrew on December 12, 2008. He was re-elected in the Toronto Centre riding in the [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011 general election]] and was named interim leader of the Liberal Party weeks later,<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Rae chosen as Canada Liberal Party interim leader |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-13553571 |website=BBC News |access-date=20 August 2021 |language=en |date=25 May 2011 |url-status=live |archive-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126012428/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-13553571 }}</ref> replacing [[Michael Ignatieff]]; he served in that position until [[Justin Trudeau]]'s election as party leader in early 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Liberals choose Rae as interim leader|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberals-choose-rae-as-interim-leader-1.1012598|access-date=May 25, 2011|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=May 25, 2011|archive-date=May 28, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528033432/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/05/25/pol-liberals-interim-leader.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 19, 2013, Rae announced that he would resign from parliament in order to become chief negotiator for James Bay area [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] in their negotiations with the provincial government.<ref name="Bob Rae stepping down">{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bob-rae-quits-as-mp-in-very-emotional-decision-1.1304493 | title=Bob Rae stepping down as MP | date=June 19, 2013 | access-date=June 19, 2013 | publisher=[[CBC News]] | archive-date=June 19, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619213837/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/06/19/pol-mp-bob-rae-quits.html | url-status=live }}</ref> His resignation from parliament became effective July 31, 2013.<ref name=departure>{{cite news|last=Wingrove|first=Josh|title=Bob Rae sets departure date as First Nations work picks up|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/bob-rae-sets-departure-date-as-first-nations-work-picks-up/article13130136/#dashboard/follows/|access-date=July 11, 2013|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=July 11, 2013|location=Toronto|archive-date=July 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724004210/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/bob-rae-sets-departure-date-as-first-nations-work-picks-up/article13130136/#dashboard/follows/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rae joined Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, a law firm specializing in representing Aboriginal clients, as a partner in February 2014. Rae sits as an advisor to [[Canada's Ecofiscal Commission]]. Rae was Canada's [[special envoy]] to [[Myanmar]] from October 2017 to April 2018 and advised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the [[Rohingya]] crisis.<ref name="bobburma" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rohingya-report-rae-1.4602720|title=Bob Rae says Canada should take leadership role in Rohingya crisis {{!}} CBC News|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=25 May 2018|archive-date=May 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530222245/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rohingya-report-rae-1.4602720|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=LibraryOfParliament /> He is also a Senior Fellow to the [[Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights]] and a Distinguished Fellow at the [[Munk School]] at the [[University of Toronto]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hon. Bob Rae {{!}} The Munk School |url=https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/person/hon-bob-rae |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=munkschool.utoronto.ca |language=en}}</ref> On July 6, 2020, his appointment as [[Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations]] was announced by [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Justin Trudeau]].

== Family ==
Rae was born in [[Ottawa]], Ontario. His parents were Lois Esther (George) and [[Saul Rae]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Saul Rae dies |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saul-rae-dies-1.188019 |website=CBC News |access-date=20 August 2021 |language=en |date=January 10, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-date=January 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109073840/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saul-rae-dies-1.188019 }}</ref> an eminent Canadian career diplomat who had postings in Washington, [[Geneva]], New York, Mexico, and The Hague.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Bob |last=Rae |title=From Protest to Power: Personal Reflections on a Life in Politics |publisher=Penguin Books of Canada |location=Toronto |year=1996 |page=[https://archive.org/details/fromprotesttopow00raeb/page/18 18] |isbn=0-670-86842-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/fromprotesttopow00raeb/page/18 }}</ref> Rae's paternal grandparents immigrated from [[Scotland]], and his mother had English ancestry. Rae was raised as an Anglican.  As an adult, he found out that his paternal grandfather was [[Jewish]] and was from a family of Lithuanian immigrants to Scotland.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/article/153985 | location=Toronto | work=The Star | first=Linda | last=Diebel | title=Rae: Destiny and a serendipitous life | date=November 22, 2006 | access-date=August 24, 2017 | archive-date=November 30, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130131206/https://www.thestar.com/?redirect=true | url-status=live }}</ref>

Rae's elder brother [[John A. Rae]] (born 1945) was an executive vice-president and director of [[Power Corporation]] and a prominent member of the Liberal Party. He was also an adviser to [[Jean Chrétien]] when he was Indian Affairs Minister in 1968, and then again from 1993 until 2003 while Chrétien was prime minister.<ref name="radical">{{cite news |title=Student radical at U of T named as Rhodes scholar |newspaper=Toronto Daily Star |date=December 3, 1968 |page=28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Rae |title=Protest to Power |pages=33, 255}}</ref> Rae's younger brother, David, was diagnosed with [[lymphatic cancer]] in 1987. Despite a bone marrow transplant from his brother, he died of [[leukemia]] in 1989 at age 32.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rae |title=Protest to Power |pages=102–104}}</ref>

Rae learned of his family's Jewish origins in 1968. The revelation had a strong impact on him: he sought to explore his Jewish culture, dated Jewish girls exclusively and ultimately married a Jewish woman.<ref>{{cite news|last=Newman|first=Peter C.|title=Pretender to the Liberal throne|url=http://www.macleans.ca/2012/01/12/pretender-to-the-liberal-throne/|access-date=June 2, 2012|newspaper=Maclean's|date=January 12, 2012|archive-date=June 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610075823/http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/01/12/pretender-to-the-liberal-throne/|url-status=live}}</ref> Upon his marriage to [[Arlene Perly Rae]], Rae agreed to raise their three daughters in his wife's Jewish faith.<ref name="zolf">{{cite news |first = Larry |last = Zolf |title = The Last Rae of Sunshine |url = http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_zolf/20020423.html |publisher = [[CBC News]] |date = April 23, 2002 |access-date = October 25, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110120134527/http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_zolf/20020423.html |url-status = dead |archive-date=January 20, 2011 }}</ref> Rae is a member of [[Holy Blossom Temple]], a [[Reform Judaism|Reform Jewish]] congregation in Toronto.<ref>{{cite news|last=Posner|first=Michael|title=With departure of rabbi, Holy Blossom faces its own exodus|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/globe-to/with-departure-of-rabbi-holy-blossom-faces-its-own-exodus/article2444089/page1/|access-date=June 2, 2012|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=June 2, 2012|location=Toronto|archive-date=March 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307115528/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/globe-to/with-departure-of-rabbi-holy-blossom-faces-its-own-exodus/article2444089/page1/|url-status=live}}</ref>

His uncle, the late [[Jackie Rae]], was an entertainer and former host of ''The Jackie Rae Show'' on [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] and also performed on British television.

== Early career ==
Rae attended [[Crichton Street Public School]] in Ottawa, Horace Mann Public School and Gordon Junior High School in Washington, D.C. (1956–1961), and the [[International School of Geneva]], Switzerland. His first job was a paper route delivering the Washington's ''[[Washington Star|Evening Star]]'' newspaper, which he later described as "one of the worst newspapers in the history of modern journalism". His customers included [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Estes Kefauver]]. Rae later joked that Kefauver gave him a $20 tip one Christmas, whereas [[Pat Nixon]] only gave him a quarter and made him more sympathetic to [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] from that moment.<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', pp. 22, 25.</ref>

Rae graduated with honours from [[University College, University of Toronto|University College]], University of Toronto, where he also later received his law degree. [[Michael Ignatieff]], who later became Rae's rival for the Liberal Party leadership, was his roommate for a time.<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', p. 28.</ref> He first became involved in politics by volunteering on Trudeau's [[1968 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|1968 Liberal leadership campaign]], and later worked on Liberal [[Charles Caccia]]'s campaign in the [[1968 Canadian federal election|1968 federal election]].<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', pp. 34–35.</ref> Rae and Caccia have remained personal friends through their political careers. During his final year as an undergraduate, Rae was a student representative on the Bissell Commission on University Government.<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', p. 33.</ref>

As a result of his strong student record, Rae was awarded a [[Rhodes Scholarship]] to the [[University of Oxford]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Rae 1969 |url=https://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/famous/bob-rae-1969.html |access-date=20 August 2021 |archive-date=October 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014091327/https://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/famous/bob-rae-1969.html |url-status=live }}</ref> where he studied at [[Balliol College, Oxford]] under [[Isaiah Berlin]].<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', pp. 38–40.</ref> His [[Bachelor of Philosophy]] thesis criticized the [[cultural imperialism]] of early [[Fabian socialism|Fabian socialists]] in the United Kingdom, such as [[Sidney Webb|Sidney]] and [[Beatrice Webb]]. During his period in Britain he became involved with social work, helping squatters find rental accommodation in London. He attributes the experience with helping him develop a deepened commitment to social justice and, on his return to Canada in 1974 Rae joined the [[social democracy|social democratic]] NDP.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1145829009401&call_pageid=968256289824&col=968342212737 |first=Thomas |last=Walkom |title=Rae is back where he belongs |work=editorial |date=April 24, 2006 |access-date=December 3, 2006 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929152904/http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar%2FLayout%2FArticle_Type1&c=Article&cid=1145829009401&call_pageid=968256289824&col=968342212737 |url-status=live }}</ref> He worked in [[labour law]] during the mid-1970s.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rae |title=Protest to Power |pages=54–55}}</ref><ref name=ce/>

== Political career ==
=== Federal New Democratic MP ===
[[File:Bob Rae 1980.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Rae speaks at a press conference, 1980]]
Rae was elected to the [[House of Commons of Canada]] in a 1978<ref name=ce/> by-election, defeating [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]] [[Tom Clifford (politician)|Tom Clifford]] by 420 votes in the [[Toronto]] [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[Broadview (federal electoral district)|Broadview]]. Rae won the NDP nomination over former MP [[John Paul Harney]] and activist Kay Macpherson.<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', p. 57.</ref>

He won a full term in the [[1979 Canadian federal election|1979 federal election]] from the renamed riding of [[Toronto—Danforth (federal electoral district)|Broadview—Greenwood]],<ref name=ce/> and gained national prominence as the NDP's finance critic. When [[1979 Canadian federal budget|Clark's proposed budget]] came up for debate that December, Rae introduced a subamendment stating that the House of Commons did not approve of the budget.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.HOC_3101_125_01/334?r=0&s=1 |title=House of Commons Journals, 31st Parliament, 1st Session |author=<!--Government Journal; no by-line.--> |date=December 13, 1979 |website=Canadian Parliamentary Historical Resources |publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada |access-date=July 9, 2016 |quote=Debate was resumed on the motion of Mr. Crosbie (St John's West), seconded by Mr. MacDonald (Egmont),-That this House approves in general the budgetary policy of the Government. And on the motion of Mr. Gray, seconded by Mr. Lalonde, in amendment thereto,-That all the words after the word 'That' be deleted and the following substituted therefor: 'this House condemns the Government for its budget which will place and unfair and unnecessary burden of higher gasoline prices, higher fuel oil prices, and higher taxes on middle and lower income Canadians.' And on the motion of Mr. Rae, seconded by Mr. Knowles, in amendment to the amendment,-That the amendment be amended by changing the period at the end thereof to a comma, and by adding immediately after the words: 'and this House unreservedly condemns the Government for its outright betrayal of election promises to lower interest rates, to cut taxes, and to stimulate the growth of the Canadian economy, without a mandate from the Canadian people for such a reversal.' |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817032007/http://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.HOC_3101_125_01/334?r=0&s=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was this motion's passage that toppled Clark's government after only eight months.

Rae was elected to parliament for a third time in the [[1980 Canadian federal election|1980 federal election]], and married [[Arlene Perly Rae|Arlene Perly]] days later.<ref>"Prize awaits Rae, regardless of what happens today", ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', February 18, 1980, p. 8.</ref> In caucus, he sided with party leader [[Ed Broadbent]] in supporting [[patriation]] of the [[Canadian Constitution]] with a [[Charter of Rights and Freedoms]].<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', pp. 75–76.</ref> He also articulated his party's policy on the Canadian Bank Act, and criticized the [[Bank of Canada]]'s high interest rate policy.<ref>"Critics offer amendments to Bank Act", ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', June 3, 1980, p. B4; "Lower rates in U.S. hurt Canada, MP says", ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', July 11, 1980, p. 1.</ref><ref name=ce/>

=== Ontario NDP leader ===
During the same period Rae was in Ottawa, the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]] was suffering from internal disunity under the leadership of [[Michael Cassidy (Canadian politician)|Michael Cassidy]]. Cassidy resigned as leader after a poor performance in the [[1981 Ontario general election|1981 provincial election]], and a movement began to draft Rae as his replacement.<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', pp. 78–79.</ref> Rae initially declined a request from a provincial delegation led by [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Member of Provincial Parliament]] (MPP) [[Dave Cooke]], but reconsidered after further entreaties from former Ontario NDP leader [[Stephen Lewis]] and many others.

Eleven of the party's 21 MPPs endorsed his [[1982 Ontario New Democratic Party leadership election|candidacy]], as did much of the labour movement. Rae's supporters in caucus were [[Marion Bryden]], [[Brian Charlton]], [[Dave Cooke]], [[Odoardo Di Santo]], [[Tony Grande]], [[Donald C. MacDonald]], [[Robert Mackenzie (Ontario politician)|Robert Mackenzie]], [[Elie Martel]], [[Ed Philip]], [[George Samis]] and [[Mel Swart]].<ref>"Rae's skills earn ex-leader's support", by Sylvia Stead, ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', January 14, 1982, p. 3; "Labor delegates looking to Rae as NDP leader", by Wilfred List and Sylvia Stead, ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', January 28, 1982, p. 18.</ref> He was the most centrist candidate in the contest, and easily defeated [[Richard Johnston (politician)|Richard Johnston]] and [[Jim Foulds]] at a leadership convention in early 1982.

When Rae won the NDP leadership, the [[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party]] had governed Ontario since 1943 and was widely regarded as unbeatable. Rae was strongly critical of the [[Bill Davis]] government's approach to social issues, and used his acceptance speech to describe the PC Party's Ontario as "Toryland", "essentially a country club in which women and people of colour were not welcome". His comments were criticized by some in the media, though Rae himself would later write that his words seemed "particularly apt" in retrospect and "certainly aroused an angry response which often means a target has been hit".<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', pp. 84–85.</ref>

==== First session ====

After Rae won the party leadership, there was a delay of several months before he was able to contest a by-election to enter the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario|Ontario legislature]].  [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Members of Provincial Parliament]] (MPPs) [[Jim Renwick (Canadian politician)|Jim Renwick]], [[Marion Bryden]] and [[Tony Grande]] all declined to relinquish their seats, before former party leader [[Donald C. MacDonald]] agreed to stand down in the [[York South (Ontario provincial electoral district)|York South]] constituency.<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', p. 85; Sylvia Stead, "Rae expects tough fight from Tories, Liberals in by-election", ''The Globe and Mail'', July 7, 1982, P5.</ref> Rae defeated [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] candidate [[John Nunziata]], a [[York, Toronto|York]] councillor in a by-election on November 4, 1982. Counting the leadership contest, this was his fifth election in just over four years.

The opposition Liberals were led by the inexperienced [[David Peterson]].  Many senior NDP strategists believed their party could surpass the Liberals for second place, and Rae and Peterson became frequent rivals for media attention and public support between 1982 and 1985.<ref>Rae, ''Protest to Power'', p. 88.</ref> The NDP took two seats from the Liberals in late 1984 by-elections, and polling by [[Decima Research]] from this period put them slightly ahead of the Liberals, although still well behind the PCs.

==== 1985 election and the Liberal–NDP accord ====

The NDP did not make the anticipated gains in the [[1985 Ontario general election|1985 provincial election]] held on May 2, 1985.  They won 25 seats out of 125, only a modest improvement from their 1981 showing.  The Progressive Conservatives lost support after Davis retired and right-wing candidate [[Frank Miller (Canadian politician)|Frank Miller]] was chosen as their new leader. However, it was the Liberals rather than the NDP who were able to reposition themselves in the political centre and reap the benefits of this change.

Rae nonetheless played a pivotal role in bringing the Progressive Conservative Party's 42-year dynasty to an end.  The 1985 election resulted in a minority parliament, in which the Tories held four more seats than David Peterson's Liberals, but were eleven seats short of a majority.  Rae entered into negotiations with both Premier Miller and Peterson, the latter begun by a phone call from Rae to Peterson shortly after election day. Rae and Peterson signed a "Liberal-NDP Accord"<ref name=ce/> in which the NDP agreed to support a Liberal government in office for two years.  The Liberals, in turn, agreed to implement some policies favoured by the NDP.  Rae had personally supported a full coalition, but did not strongly argue this case with other members of his party. Peterson later indicated that he would not have accepted a coalition in any event.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rae |title=Protest to Power |page=94}}</ref><ref>{{Cite video |title=1985: The Year Politics in Ontario Changed Forever |publisher=TV Ontario |medium=documentary |people=[[Steve Paikin]] (host)}}</ref>

The Progressive Conservatives were defeated in a no-confidence motion on June 18, 1985, and [[Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario|Lieutenant-Governor]] [[John Black Aird]] asked Peterson to form a new government.  Rae himself moved the motion of non-confidence, as he had done in the defeat of Joe Clark's government six years earlier.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rae |title=Protest to Power |page=96}}</ref> With support from Rae, Peterson's minority government implemented socially progressive legislation on matters such as pay equity, brought an end to extra-billing by doctors, and established campaign spending limits.<ref>Scott White, "Campaign expense limits part of Liberal-NDP pact", ''The Globe and Mail'', March 10, 1986, A5; Denise Harrington and William Walker, "'It's an historic day for Ontarians', Rae says; Extra-billing is banned", ''Toronto Star'', June 20, 1986, A1; James C. Simeon, "Two years later, NDP-Liberal pact proves a success", ''Globe and Mail'', April 28, 1987, A7.</ref> Rae often criticized Peterson's approach to specific issues, but never moved to bring down the government.<ref>For instance, see Robert Sheppard, "Rae says he can live with 'extremely modest effort'", ''The Globe and Mail'', October 25, 1985, A12.  Despite his concerns about the Peterson government's first budget, Rae announced that his party would support it.</ref>

Rae advocated pension reform in early 1986, following revelations that some corporate leaders in Ontario had been given permission to withdraw money from their employees' pension funds.  He was especially critical of [[Conrad Black]], who then held a controlling interest in Dominion Stores Ltd., for withdrawing $62&nbsp;million at a time when many laid off company workers were unable to receive severance pay.  During a legislative debate, Rae described Black as "that most symbolic representative of bloated capitalism at its worst".<ref>Regina Hickl-Szabo, "Black owes apology to his workers, Wrye says", ''The Globe and Mail'', February 7, 1986, A4.  Black later described the store's workers as "slovenly".</ref> The Liberal government declined to act on the matter.  Later in the same year, Rae argued that the Peterson government should reform the Ontario Human Rights Code to include provisions for group defamation and systematic discrimination.<ref>Erika Rosenfeld, "Rae calls for reform of human rights laws", ''The Globe and Mail'', April 14, 1986, A15.</ref>

Some members of the NDP disapproved of the party's accord with the Liberals.<ref>Rosemary Speirs, "Rae grapples with dissenters in his own party", ''Toronto Star'', May 28, 2006, A15.</ref> Party activist Ian Orenstein challenged Rae for the provincial leadership in 1986 in a symbolic protest against the party's centrist tilt.  Rae won without difficulty.<ref>William Walker, "Rae asks NDP to end infighting after re-election as party leader", ''Toronto Star'', June 23, 1986, A3.  Rae defeated Orenstein by 776 votes to 38.</ref>

==== Leader of the Opposition ====

Peterson's minority government was very popular during its two years in office, and the Liberal Party won a landslide majority government in the [[1987 Ontario general election|1987 provincial election]], called after the conclusion of the Liberal-NDP accord.  The NDP was reduced to nineteen seats and Rae was nearly defeated in his own riding, defeating high-profile Liberal challenger [[Alan Tonks]] by only 333 votes.  The Progressive Conservatives under [[Larry Grossman (politician)|Larry Grossman]] suffered an even more serious defeat, falling to only sixteen seats.  As a result, Rae became [[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Opposition]] once the legislature resumed.

In September 1989, Rae took part in a highly publicized protest in support of native land claims in the middle of the [[Temagami]] Forest in [[Northern Ontario]].  Following discussions with Chief [[Gary Potts]], Rae agreed to participate in a road sit-in to protect a strand of old pine, a key aspect of the native claim.  After the protest, Rae was escorted to a police wagon by members of the [[Ontario Provincial Police]] and driven to the nearby town of [[Elk Lake, Ontario|Elk Lake]].  He was not charged with an offense.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite book|last=Rae |title=Protest to Power |page=109}}</ref>

There was considerable speculation that Rae would seek the federal NDP leadership in 1989, after the resignation of [[Ed Broadbent]].  High-profile party members such as former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis, [[Allan Blakeney]] and [[Roy Romanow]] of [[Saskatchewan]], [[Gary Doer]] of [[Manitoba]] and [[Alexa McDonough]] of [[Nova Scotia]] all encouraged him to run, as did several representatives of organized labour.<ref>William Walker, "High-profile New Democrats endorse Rae", ''Toronto Star'', September 28, 1989, A15.</ref> Expecting Rae to resign, [[Bud Wildman]], [[Ruth Grier]] and Richard Johnston began preparing campaigns to succeed him as leader of the Ontario NDP.  On October 5, 1989, however, Rae announced that he would not return to federal politics and would remain as provincial leader.  Several of Rae's associates, including Arlene Perly Rae, declared their support for [[Howard McCurdy]], and later moved to [[Audrey McLaughlin]] after McCurdy was dropped from the ballot at the leadership convention.  Rae declined to endorse a candidate.<ref>Ross Howard, "Ontario vote brokers vex New Democrats in West", ''The Globe and Mail'', November 22, 1989, A15; "Most of party's big names supported McLaughlin", ''Toronto Star'', December 3, 1989, A13.</ref>

Rae was an international observer for [[Lithuania]]'s first multi-party elections in early 1990.  A lifelong opponent of [[communism]], he later wrote that he was impressed by the spirit of the opposition [[Sąjūdis]] party, which won the election.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rae |title=Protest to Power |pages=110–114}}</ref> He was also very critical of the [[Kremlin]]'s harsh response to the opposition's victory.<ref>Bob Rae, "Kremlin response to Lithuania says nyet to freedom", ''The Globe and Mail'', March 29, 1990, A7; Bob Rae, "Canada should support Lithuania", ''Toronto Star'', May 4, 1990, A27.</ref>

==== Election victory ====

Peterson called a [[snap election]] for [[1990 Ontario general election|1990]].  The NDP entered the campaign with low expectations, as the Liberals still held a significant lead in opinion polls and all signs indicated that they would win another majority government.  Rae later acknowledged that he did not expect to win the election, and planned to leave electoral politics at some point in the next sitting of the legislature.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> A number of prominent MPPs, including [[Richard Johnston (politician)|Richard Johnston]], [[Marion Bryden]] and [[David Reville]], chose not to seek re-election.  [[Floyd Laughren]] was also planning to retire, but had not finalized his plans when Peterson [[drop the writ|dropped the writ]].

Contrary to expectations, the Liberal Party's support base declined significantly in mid-campaign.  The snap election was unpopular, and the Liberals suffered lingering effects from an earlier scandal involving Liberal fundraiser [[Patti Starr affair|Patti Starr]] undermined public confidence in the government. Peterson's prominent role in drafting and supporting the troubled [[Meech Lake Accord]] for constitutional reform proved a particular liability. There were also signs of an economic downturn by this time and some believed that Peterson had called the snap election to avoid its full impact.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Rae |title=Protest to Power |pages=120–123}}</ref> The Progressive Conservatives were led by the inexperienced [[Mike Harris]], who ran a narrow campaign focused on tax issues and was unable to capitalize on the Liberal slide.  As such, Rae's NDP was the primary beneficiary.  Rae himself was more confident than in the 1985 and 1987 campaigns, and took a more aggressive stance against the Peterson government.<ref>William Walker, "NDP turned on by Rae's new style", ''Toronto Star'', August 5, 1990, B4.</ref> A poll taken late in the campaign showed the NDP holding a slight lead over the Liberals.<ref>"Ontario NDP tops Liberals in latest poll", ''The Globe and Mail'', September 1, 1990, A4.</ref>

The election results were nonetheless a surprise to political observers across the province, even to longtime NDP supporters.  The NDP was elected to a strong majority government with 74 seats. The popular vote was very close, with the NDP outpolling the Liberals 37% to 34%.  Several ridings were won by narrow margins.  However, the NDP managed to take many seats from the Liberals in the [[Greater Toronto Area]], and also did better than ever before (or in some cases, since) in many other cities and rural areas.  Due to the nature of the first-past-the-post electoral system, which ignores the popular vote and only awards power based on the number of ridings won, this decimated the Liberal caucus.  The Liberals lost 59 seats, the worst defeat in their history and the second-worst defeat for a governing party in Ontario.  The NDP even managed to unseat Peterson in his own riding.<ref name=ce/>

=== Premier ===
{{main|Rae ministry}}
[[File:June 2012 Ontario Legislature Toronto.jpg|thumb|The [[Ontario Legislative Building]], from which Rae governed Ontario as the first NDP premier of the province]]
On October 1, 1990, Rae was sworn in as the first, and to date the only, [[Ontario New Democratic Party|New Democratic]] [[premier of Ontario]].<ref name="bilan.usherbrooke.ca">{{Cite web|url=http://bilan.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/liste.jsp?titreListe=117|title=Liste des Premiers ministres de l'Ontario|access-date=November 26, 2018|archive-date=November 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122173418/http://bilan.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/liste.jsp?titreListe=117|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-ndp-pick-up-big-gains-in-provincial-election-will-form/|title=Ontario NDP organizers laud 'historic' moment as party forms Official Opposition|access-date=November 26, 2018|archive-date=December 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207065906/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-ontario-ndp-pick-up-big-gains-in-provincial-election-will-form/|url-status=live}}</ref>  He also took the [[Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (Ontario)|Intergovernmental Affairs]] portfolio, giving himself a direct voice in future constitutional negotiations.

Bob Rae was in power for 1650 days, the longest term for an Ontario premier since the [[Second World War]]. He became one of the few Ontario premiers who could speak French.<ref name="archives.radio-canada.ca">{{Cite web |url=http://archives.radio-canada.ca/politique/elections/clips/5127/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-date=November 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127022612/http://archives.radio-canada.ca/politique/elections/clips/5127/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

He was very popular for his first six months as Premier, with a poll from March 1991 showing the NDP at 52% support.<ref>Kathleen Kenna, "52 per cent back NDP, Ontario poll shows", ''Toronto Star'', March 28, 1991, A5.</ref> The federal NDP also received 56% support in Ontario in a January 1991 poll.<ref>"Tory support plunges to record 12%", ''Toronto Star'', January 17, 1991, A23.</ref>

The government was unable to sustain its popularity, however, and by late 1992 had fallen to third place in public opinion polls.  The party's popularity continued to ebb throughout 1993, followed by only a modest recovery in the next two years.  This, among other factors, partially contributed to a significant decline in support for the federal NDP.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

There are many reasons for the Rae government's loss of popularity between 1991 and 1993.  The NDP had never governed Ontario before, and Ontario was experiencing its worst [[recession]] since the [[Great Depression]].  The government backtracked on several campaign promises, most notably the introduction of public [[auto insurance]], which caused disagreements among the party and supporters, especially from members of the progressive wing of the party such as cabinet ministers [[Howard Hampton]] and [[Shelley Martel]].  A number of scandals in cabinet and caucus due to the large number of rookie MPPs also cut into the government's popularity.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

In the [[1993 Canadian federal election|1993 federal election]], the NDP fell to a historic low of 6% support in Ontario.  All 10 New Democrat MPs from Ontario lost their seats to Liberal challengers as the Liberals won all but one seat in the province.  Besides many NDP supporters nationwide voting Liberal to ensure that the Conservatives would be defeated (to avoid the vote-splitting of the 1988 election), the Rae government's unpopularity was a major factor in the federal NDP's losses. On the day after the election, defeated MP [[Steven W. Langdon|Steven Langdon]] called on Rae to resign.  Langdon had openly campaigned against Rae's austerity measures.  Although he lost by 13,000 votes to the Liberal candidate, he received a higher percentage of votes than any other NDP candidate in the province.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Notwithstanding its setbacks, the Rae government achieved some positive accomplishments during its time in office.  It saved many jobs in northern Ontario through its bailout of [[Algoma Steel]], and negotiated a similar contract for paper mill workers in [[Kapuskasing]].  Other popular initiatives included the [[Eglinton West subway|TTC Eglinton West subway line]] in Toronto (even though the official transit plan only recommended a busway for current needs), support for public housing, and the Jobs Ontario [[job creation program]].  Rae's decision to approve [[casino]] gambling for the province was also opposed by many in the party but it provided a steady source of revenue.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

==== Rae's Government policies ====

===== Economic policy =====

Ontario's economic forecast was bleak when Rae took office in October 1990.  The Liberal government had forecast a small surplus earlier in the year, but a worsening North American economy led to a $700&nbsp;million deficit before Rae took office.<ref>Derek Fergsuon and Matt Maychuk, "$700&nbsp;million deficit left for NDP, Nixon says", ''Toronto Star'', September 14, 1990, A1.</ref> In October, the NDP projected a $2.5&nbsp;billion deficit for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 1991.<ref>Daniel Girard, "NDP housing promise in jeopardy, Cooke says", ''Toronto Star'', January 23, 1991, A28.</ref> Some economists projected soaring deficits for the upcoming years, even if the Rae government implemented austerity measures.<ref>James Rusk, "Fiscal news all bad for NDP", ''The Globe and Mail'', October 1, 1990, B1.</ref> Rae himself was critical of the Bank of Canada's high interest rate policy, arguing that it would lead to increased unemployment throughout the country.<ref>Derek Ferguson, "Rae blasts Ottawa's 'medieval' economics", ''Toronto Star'', November 4, 1990, A4.</ref> He also criticized the 1991 federal budget, arguing the Finance Minister [[Michael Wilson (Canadian politician)|Michael Wilson]] was shifting the federal debt to the provinces.<ref>Derek Ferguson and Matt Maychak, "Ontario puts welfare reforms on hold", ''Toronto Star'', February 27, 1991, A1.</ref>

The Rae government's first budget, introduced in 1991, increased social spending<ref name="archives.radio-canada.ca"/> to mitigate the economic slowdown and projected a record deficit of $9.1&nbsp;billion.  Finance Minister [[Floyd Laughren]] argued that Ontario made a decision to target the effects of the recession rather than the deficit, and said that the budget would create or protect 70,000 jobs.  It targeted more money to social assistance, social housing and child benefits, and raised taxes for high-income earners while lowering rates for 700,000 low-income Ontarians.<ref>Matt Maychak, "'Recession -fighting' budget takes from rich, gives to poor, punishes the sinful", ''Toronto Star'', April 30, 1991, A17.</ref>

===== Labour policy =====

In April 1991, the government introduced a one-year program to protect the pay of workers whose firms had shut down due to the recession.  Labour Minister [[Robert W. Mackenzie|Bob Mackenzie]] estimated that the plan would help 56,000 workers.<ref>Matt Maychak, "Ontario to protect pay when firms crash", ''Toronto Star'', April 12, 1991, A13.</ref>

Rae claims he faced a true emergency in the spring of 1993&nbsp;a crisis of government on which he had to act. Upon returning from Davos, Rae gave a speech on 9 February describing international business leaders' despair over government deficits and inefficiencies in Europe, where they stressed "the worldwide trend to redesign organizations, downsizing wherever possible and trying to make their organizations more responsive". Rae left Davos convinced that major changes in Ontario public services were needed, where these changes were of the kind long-proposed by the more conservative and business leaders of Ontario.<ref name=martell>{{cite book|last=Martell|first=George|title=A New Education Politics: Bob Rae's Legacy and the Response of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation|publisher=James Lorimer & Company|year=1995|pages=49–53|isbn=9781550284881|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h3nT-W5EC6QC&pg=PA52|access-date=September 2, 2021|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130131209/https://books.google.com/books?id=h3nT-W5EC6QC&pg=PA52|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{blockquote|Indeed, [Rae's] speech to the U. of T. students was so emphatic on the importance of making government more efficient and cutting spending that reports, remembering the antagonism between Mr. Rae and business leader [[Conrad Black]], joked that the Premier had gone from being 'Comrade Bob to Conrad Bob'|Richard Mackie<ref name=martell/>}}

As a result, his government brought in the ''[[Social Contract (Ontario)|Social Contract]]'', austerity legislation which reopened collective bargaining agreements with the province's public sector unions. This legislation imposed a wage freeze and introduced what became known as "[[Rae days]]", requiring civil servants to take up to twelve days off without pay per year.<ref name="No regrets">{{cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2009/11/06/no_regrets_about_days_that_bear_his_name_rae_says.html | title='No regrets' about days that bear his name, Rae says | work=Toronto Star | date=November 6, 2009 | access-date=July 2, 2013 | author=Brennan, Richard J. | archive-date=January 9, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109122719/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2009/11/06/no_regrets_about_days_that_bear_his_name_rae_says.html | url-status=live }}</ref> These measures generated nearly 2&nbsp;billion dollars in savings for Ontario, without laying off any public sector workers.<ref name="No regrets" /> These cutbacks led to a falling-out with both the public sector unions, most notably [[Ontario Public Service Employees Union]] (OPSEU), and the [[Canadian Auto Workers]] (CAW) and its leader [[Buzz Hargrove]].  [[Sid Ryan]], Ontario President of the [[Canadian Union of Public Employees]] stated that Rae's passing of the "Social Contract" was unforgivable.<ref name="No regrets" /><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.macleans.ca/politics/bob-raes-rise-and-fall-as-ontarios-first-ndp-premier-as-told-through-macleans-archives/| title = Bob Rae's rise and fall as Ontario's first NDP premier, as told through Maclean's archives - Macleans.ca| access-date = November 26, 2018| archive-date = March 26, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210326235314/https://www.macleans.ca/politics/bob-raes-rise-and-fall-as-ontarios-first-ndp-premier-as-told-through-macleans-archives/| url-status = dead}}</ref>

''[[Macleans magazine|Macleans]]'' reported that Rae had been delivered "a secret ultimatum" "by Canadian and international bond dealers". If he didn't get the deficit under $10 billion, they would demand junk-bond interest rates in order to finance Ontario's debt. Richard Walkom suggested it was a sudden panic of an NDP party aware of the stereotype it could not manage a budget, using the crisis as an opportunity to demonstrate it would use extreme measures in the appropriate circumstances. Regardless of whether Davos visit provided an epiphany, pressure or panic, this event is agreed as the beginning of the Ontario government's concessions to international corporations.<ref name=martell/>

Indeed, no less than a year later at Davos, Rae arrived as a pro-business head of government. He approached the World Economic Forum as a unabashed champion of the international corporation working against the expansion of workers' wages and government services. He proposed giving a large majority of Ontario's investment planning to international banking and securities firms,  meeting with [[Deutsche Bank]], [[Goldman Sachs]] and [[Nomura Securities]], all of whom sold Ontario bonds on the global market. Instead of selling more bonds, he was now asking them to "sell Ontario through their global networks", looking to "plug into" them instead of spending government money to control publicly-controlled avenues to investment.<ref name=martell/>

This breach between the NDP and the [[labour movement]] struck at the party's foundations.  The NDP was founded as an alliance between the old [[Cooperative Commonwealth Federation]] and the labour movement, and Rae's policy decisions alienated many traditional NDP voters. Thousands of members resigned from the party, and several unions turned against the NDP and vowed to defeat the government in the next election.  The Rae government later attempted to regain labour support by passing Bill 40, a measure which (among other things) introduced anti-scab provisions to the province.  This was not enough to bridge the gap with organized labour, however, and the party was unable to regain significant union support.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

===== Health policy =====
As Premier, Rae placed a cap on enrollment into medical schools.<ref name=Pedwelll2000>Carolyn Pedwell, "[http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2000-09-08/news/province-gives-med-schools-boost-more-spaces-and-f/ Province gives med schools a boost More spaces and free tuition offers aimed at solving health care woes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209024036/http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2000-09-08/news/province-gives-med-schools-boost-more-spaces-and-f/ |date=February 9, 2008 }}", The Journal&nbsp;– Queen's University, September 8, 2000.</ref> The Rae government also delisted [[home care]] from OHIP coverage but introduced a new comprehensive program to deliver the service mostly on a non-profit basis by publicly run, regional multi-service agencies and passed the Home Care and Community Services Act, 1994 to facilitate this. The Harris government subsequently rejected this model for a brokerage model in which Community Care Access Centres would hire a home care provider to service a region rather than provide the service directly and lifted the 10% limit on the use of for-profit service delivery that the Rae government had imposed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://diablogue.org/2013/06/07/home-care-its-critical-we-get-it-right-this-time/|title=Home care – it's critical we get it right this time|date=June 7, 2013|website=OPSEU Diablogue|access-date=October 7, 2016|archive-date=October 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009184414/https://diablogue.org/2013/06/07/home-care-its-critical-we-get-it-right-this-time/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===== Auto insurance =====

The New Democratic Party campaigned on a promise to introduce [[public auto insurance]] in the 1987 and 1990 campaigns.  After assuming office, Rae appointed [[Peter Kormos]], one of the most vocal proponents of public insurance, as the minister responsible for bringing forward the policy.<ref>Derek Ferguson, "Minister says he'll propose public system", ''Toronto Star'', October 2, 1990, A9.</ref> With the onset of the recession, however, both business and labour groups expressed concern about layoffs and lost revenues.<ref>James Daw, "Auto plan could cost $1.6&nbsp;billion firms say", ''Toronto Star'', February 7, 1991, C1; James Rusk, "Car insurance study gets attention", ''The Globe and Mail'', April 4, 1991, B6.</ref> The government backtracked from the policy in 1991. Kormos, who had already been dropped from cabinet, became Rae's most vocal critic in the NDP caucus.

===== Social policy =====
[[File:Toronto Pride - 2008 - IMG 3156.jpg|thumb|Rae with [[George Smitherman]] at the 2008 [[Pride Toronto]] parade]]
Rae's government attempted to introduce a variety of socially progressive measures during its time in office, though its success in this field was mixed.  In 1994, the government introduced legislation, [[Equality Rights Statute Amendment Act|Bill 167]], which would have provided for same-sex partnership benefits in the province.  At the time, this legislation was seen as a revolutionary step forward for same-sex recognition.  It was defeated, however, when twelve NDP MPPs (including two junior ministers) voted against it, while the opposition Liberals led by [[Lyn McLeod]] also withdrew their support.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

The Rae government established an employment equity commission in 1991,<ref>Richard Mackie, "Rae defends choice of equity boss", ''The Globe and Mail'', February 19, 1991, A10.</ref> and two years later introduced [[affirmative action]] to improve the numbers of women, non-whites, aboriginals and disabled persons working across the private and public sectors.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-07-24|title=Employment Equity Act, 1993, Sec. 7|url=https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/93e35|access-date=2020-07-02|website=Ontario.ca|language=en|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702135723/https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/93e35|url-status=live}}</ref>  This policy was controversial, and it cost the NDP support among its unionized working-class base of support.

In November 1990, the Rae government announced that it would restrict most rent increases to 4.6% for the present year and 5.4% for 1991.  The provisions for 1990 were made retroactive.  Tenants' groups supported these changes, while landlord representatives were generally opposed.<ref>Matt Maychak, "New rules on landlords' expenses limit most '91 rent hikes to 5.4%", ''Toronto Star', November 29, 1990, A1; Jane Armstrong, "Landlords say they may sue province over curbs on rent", ''Toronto Star', November 29, 1990, A3. A few days after the policy announcement, a landlord group placed a $25,000 advertisement in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' suggesting that investors avoid Ontario. (Richard Mackie, "Rae attacks landlords for placing ad", ''The Globe and Mail'', December 1, 1990, A6.) Their decision was widely criticized.</ref> [[Dave Cooke]], the minister responsible for implementing the policy, later announced that he would work to factor in the costs of legitimate building renovations.<ref>Derek Ferguson and Andrew Duffy, "Cooke hints at policy flip as 800 protest rent controls", ''Toronto Star'', December 12, 1990, A2.</ref>

When campaigning in 1990, Rae promised that he would eliminate [[food bank]]s through anti-poverty initiatives.  After taking office, however, his government committed a significant sum of money to support Ontario's existing food banks.  [[Gerard Kennedy]], leader of the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto, criticized Rae for not targeting the money toward affordable housing and welfare reforms.<ref>Mike Trickey, "Poor marks for Rae on welfare reform", ''Kitchener-Waterloo Record'', April 5, 1991, A7.</ref> In April 1991, [[Minister of Community and Social Services (Ontario)|Community and Social Services]] minister [[Zanana Akande]] announced that food banks would have to remain open in light of changed economic circumstances.<ref>Mary Gooderham, "Can't shut food banks, NDP says", ''The Globe and Mail'', April 9, 1991, A1.</ref>

Rae increased the basic social assistance allowance by 7% in 1991, and increased the maximum payment for shelter allowances by 10%.<ref>Nate Laurie, "The real facts on 'generous' welfare" [opinion piece], ''Toronto Star'', April 18, 1991, A29.</ref>

Rae supports abortion rights, saying  "The rights of women to choose, to have control over their own bodies, is not a right which is going to be taken away by the Parliament of Canada, and it is not a right which should be subject to some private member's bill which is going to affect the rights of women to have choice, to have genuine equality and to have full and complete access to the medicare and the health care that they need."<ref name="CBC News">{{cite news|last=Payton|first=Laura|title=CBC News&nbsp;– Bob Rae extols Liberal ideals in making case for party|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bob-rae-extols-liberal-ideals-in-making-case-for-party-1.1260248|publisher=[[CBC News]]|access-date=September 21, 2012|archive-date=September 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927170742/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/09/05/pol-liberals-focus-on-staking-out-centre.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===== Aboriginal issues =====

Soon after assuming office in 1990, Rae announced his support for native Canadians' "inherent right to self-government".<ref>"Siddon set to discuss autonomy for Indians", ''Kitchener-Waterloo Record'', October 4, 1990, B8.</ref> He later worked to help six aboriginal bands in [[Northern Ontario]] gain reserve status,<ref>"Darts and Laurels", ''Toronto Star'', October 27, 1990, D2.</ref> and called for self-government on the [[Akwesasne|Akwesasne Indian Reserve]], in part to help the reserve leaders combat smuggling.<ref>"Rae stand on self-rule earns native praise", ''The Globe and Mail'', January 21, 1991, A6.</ref> Rae also pushed for native rights to be included in future constitutional reforms.<ref>"Rae urges action on native rights", The Canadian Press, November 6, 1990, A4.</ref>

===== Energy policy =====

In November 1990, the Rae government announced an indefinite moratorium on the construction of new nuclear plants in Ontario.<ref>Linda Hossie, "Nuclear power program frozen", ''The Globe and Mail'', November 21, 1990, A8.</ref> He consistently opposed plans to privatize [[Ontario Hydro]].<ref>Derek Ferguson and Matt Maychak, "Energy Probe given money to fight Hydro", ''Toronto Star'', April 12, 1991, A1.</ref>

===== Intergovernmental affairs and Quebec status =====

In March 1991, Rae announced that he would support a new round of constitutional negotiations between the federal government and the provinces, which ultimately proved to be unsuccessful.  He indicated that Ontario was willing to recognize [[Quebec]] as a distinct society, and called for aboriginal and women's rights to be entrenched in the Canadian Constitution.  Rae also supported the creation of a "social charter", to establish national standards for social programs such as medicare.<ref>Matt Maychak, "Don't gut federal power: Rae", ''Toronto Star'', March 28, 1991, A12.</ref>

Early in his term, Rae indicated that his government would continue a long-standing development freeze in Toronto's Harbourfront area, to ensure the survival of cultural programs in the area.<ref>Christopher Harris and Margaret Polanyi, "Development freeze to be maintained", ''The Globe and Mail'', January 16, 1991, C3.</ref>

Rae was initially one of the most prominent opponents of the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] in Canada.  During a meeting with Mexican President [[Carlos Salinas de Gortari]] in 1991, he argued that any proposed North American free trade zone would have to incorporate common environmental and labour standards.<ref>Gene Allen and Patricia Poirier, "Rae fails to sway", ''The Globe and Mail'', April 10, 1991, A6.</ref>

===== Law enforcement =====

Rae endorsed [[Susan Eng]]'s successful bid to chair the Metro [[Toronto Police Services Board]] in early 1991, over the opposition of several police officers.<ref>"Rae supports tax lawyer for head of police board", ''The Globe and Mail'', March 28, 1991, A5.</ref> Rae later introduced policies requiring Ontario police services to hire more women, disabled people, native Canadians and members of visible minority groups.<ref>Matt Maychak and Lisa Priest, "Police told they must hire more women", ''Toronto Star'', April 11, 1991, A3.</ref>

===== Sunday shopping =====
[[File:Yonge and Church Streets, looking north 1990.jpg|thumb|right|Retail stores along [[Yonge Street]] in Toronto, circa 1990, at a time when the issue of Sunday shopping was being debated in Ontario]]
When Rae assumed office, the Retail Business Holidays Act of Ontario had recently been found unconstitutional
by the Supreme Court of Ontario, meaning that many stores were allowed to [[Sunday shopping|open legally on Sundays]] for the first time.  Rae announced that his government planned to introduce legislation for a "common pause day" across Ontario, "to help strengthen family and community life while protecting small business and the rights of workers".  In practice, this initiative would have required many retail establishments to close on Sundays, with exemptions for religious minority communities.<ref>Gerald Vandezande, "Court battle is over" [opinion piece], ''Kitchener-Waterloo Record'', April 11, 1991, A7.</ref> The province also appealed the court ruling to a higher court, the [[Ontario Court of Appeal]], which restored the previous status quo.

However, many retail owners as well as members of the general public preferred Sunday shopping to be legal,
and in 1992 the Rae government yielded to the pressure and reversed its position, amending the Retail Business Holidays Act so that only statutory holidays, and not Sundays, would be common pause days.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=1992-07-23 |title=Ontario abandons Sunday rest |url=https://theinterim.com/issues/society-culture/ontario-abandons-sunday-rest/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=The Interim |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Powell |first=James |date=2019-06-04 |title=Remember This? Sunday shopping |url=https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2019/06/04/remember-this-sunday-shopping-1488739/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=CityNews Ottawa |language=en}}</ref>

===== Education&nbsp;– A Royal Commission =====
The Rae government created a Royal Commission on Learning&nbsp;– co-chaired by [[Gerald Caplan]] and [[Monique Bégin]] – which delivered its report and recommendations: "For the Love of Learning" in January 1995. Among the reports' more prominent recommendations were:
* the creation of a common curriculum for Ontario schools
* the equalization of funding per pupil
* the elimination of grade 13
* the appointment of pupil representatives on Ontario school boards
* the creation of a College of Teachers (recommendation #58)
* the implementation of uniform testing of students at various grade levels.<ref>Ministry or Education of Ontario – "For the Love of Learning" – Report of the Royal Commission on Learning&nbsp;— Jan 2005</ref>

==== 1995 election ====

Rae's popularity had recovered somewhat by 1995, but by the time the [[dropping the writ|writs were dropped]] for that year's [[1995 Ontario general election|provincial election]] it was obvious that the NDP would not be re-elected.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://archives.radio-canada.ca/politique/elections/clips/5128/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130523143136/http://archives.radio-canada.ca/politique/elections/clips/5128/| archive-date = 2013-05-23| title = 1995 : l'Ontario glisse vers la droite - Les Archives de Radio-Canada}} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127022545/http://archives.radio-canada.ca/politique/elections/clips/5128/ |date=November 27, 2018 }}</ref>

The official opposition Liberals were expected to be the primary benefactors of the NDP's unpopularity, having recovered from their severe defeat of five years earlier, and leading in opinion polls since 1992.  However, several unpopular policy reversals and mistakes by Liberal leader [[Lyn McLeod]] allowed [[Mike Harris]] and the Tories to benefit from the swing in support away from the NDP.  During the leaders' debates, while Rae and McLeod traded barbs, Harris used his camera time to speak directly to the camera about the PC's platform. Several working-class ridings which had long voted NDP became disgruntled with the party due to the Social Contract and affirmative action, so they were attracted by Harris' populism and shifted to the Tories.  While the NDP polled considerably better in northern Ontario than it did in 1990, it lost much of its support in rest of the province, especially the [[Area code 905|905]] region where they had won many seats five years earlier. In the end the Tories shot from third place to a landslide majority government, sweeping the NDP from power.  The Liberals lost six seats, but retained their status as the official opposition, while the NDP fell to only seventeen seats and third place in the Legislative Assembly.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Rae himself was reelected in his own riding by over 3,000 votes.  However, on February 29, 1996; he resigned as NDP leader and MPP for York South and moved to positions in law, academia and the private sector. He joined the law firm of Goodmans LLP.<ref name=ce/> He was eventually succeeded as party leader by [[Howard Hampton]], who was formerly [[Ontario Minister of Natural Resources|Natural Resources Minister]] in Rae's cabinet and a longtime left-wing rival. Liberal [[Gerard Kennedy]] succeeded Rae as MPP for York South.<ref name=ce/>

=== After NDP ===
{{BLP sources section|date=December 2021}}
Rae resigned from the New Democratic Party in 1998 due to his appointment to the [[Security Intelligence Review Committee]].  There was some speculation that [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] Jean Chrétien would have him appointed [[Governor General of Canada|Governor General]] in 1999, but he was passed over in favour of [[Adrienne Clarkson]].<ref>[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/clarkson-appointed-governor-general Clarkson Appointed Governor General] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127022625/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/clarkson-appointed-governor-general |date=November 27, 2018 }}, The Canadian Encyclopedia, accessed September 4, 2019</ref> There was further speculation that Rae would return to the federal Liberals and run under their banner in the [[2000 Canadian federal election|2000 election]], though nothing came of this at the time.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Rae was made an Officer of the [[Order of Canada]] in 2000, and in 2004 he was appointed to the [[Order of Ontario]].{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} He was appointed the sixth chancellor of [[Wilfrid Laurier University]] on July 2, 2003, and was installed at that school's fall [[convocation]] in October.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} Rae also became a partner at [[Goodmans|Goodmans LLP]], a [[Toronto]]-based corporate law firm, an adjunct professor at the [[University of Toronto]], and a Senior Fellow of [[Massey College]].{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} He has written a number of books: ''From Protest to Power: Personal Reflections on a Life in Politics'' (1996), ''Three Questions: Prosperity and the Public Good'' (1998), ''Canada in the Balance'' (2006), ''Exporting Democracy: The Risks and Rewards of Pursuing a Good Idea'' (2010), and ''What's Happened to Politics?'' (2016).  He was the national spokesperson for the Leukemia Research Foundation.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Rae helped the [[Toronto Symphony Orchestra]] restructure following an extended strike by its musicians at the beginning of the 1999–2000 season.<ref name=ce/>

Rae returned to active politics on April 16, 2002, two days after [[Mike Harris]] announced his resignation as premier, with an opinion piece in the ''[[National Post]]'' newspaper.  In an article entitled, "Parting Company with the NDP", Rae strongly criticized what he perceived as a bias against [[Israel]] in the federal party, and also criticized the NDP for rejecting [[Tony Blair]]'s [[Third Way (centrism)|Third Way]] concept and for refusing to accept [[globalization]] and open markets.  He suggested that the party's economic policies were insufficient for the 21st century, and that the party as a whole was no longer "worthy of support".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kay |first=Jonathan |date=2012-06-13 |title=Jonathan Kay on Bob Rae: A man with principle, a man with class |url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/jonathan-kay-on-bob-rae-a-man-with-principle-a-man-with-class |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=National Post}}</ref>

The Ontario NDP distanced itself from Rae's policies under Hampton.  During the [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 provincial election]], Hampton argued that Rae was wrong to reverse the NDP's commitment to public auto insurance. The party's relations with the labour movement have not completely healed, although the situation has improved since 1993.  Relations with the CAW remain especially fraught, and memories of the social contract have hurt the NDP's credibility with a new generation of public sector workers, despite the party's efforts to distance itself from the measure. Nonetheless, the Ontario NDP remained in third place in the Legislative Assembly, and would not win more than 20 seats in the legislature until 2014 under Hampton's successor, [[Andrea Horwath]]. It would not come out of the political wilderness until 2018, when it won 40 seats–its most since 1990–and opposition status.

Rae worked on the [[Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada|Red Cross tainted blood issue]] and also worked towards a resolution of the fishing conflict in [[Burnt Church, New Brunswick]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2013-06-19 |title=Bob Rae quits as MP in 'very emotional' decision |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bob-rae-quits-as-mp-in-very-emotional-decision-1.1304493 |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=CBC News}}</ref>

In 2005, Rae wrote a report for the Liberal government of [[Dalton McGuinty]] on post-secondary education, commonly referred to as the [[Rae Report]].<ref name=":0" /> His report called for increased government funding to colleges and universities, and enhanced student aid especially for low-income students. The report also suggested that individual institutions ought to be able to determine what rate of tuition fees to charge, free from government controls, which generated controversy. Student groups including the [[Canadian Federation of Students]] have objected, noting the significant recent increases in tuition fees in Ontario under the government of Mike Harris, and the 57 per cent increase in tuition fees during Rae's own tenure as premier. Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton also criticized the report. Rae defended his report, arguing that low income non-university individuals would not benefit from a tuition freeze/lowering, as well as being forced to bear the tax burden needed to enact it.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Rae has also become involved with international issues; in 2002 and 2003, as chair of the Forum of Federations he helped oversee constitutional discussions between the government of [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Tamil Tiger]] rebels.<ref>Campbell, Murray. A new day for Bob Rae: 'I am what I am'. ''The Globe and Mail''. September 23, 2006. [https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060922.cover23/BNStory/Front/?pageRequested=1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116070707/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060922.cover23/BNStory/Front/?pageRequested=1|date=January 16, 2009}}</ref> On April 26, 2005, he was appointed to advise Deputy Prime Minister [[Anne McLellan]] on whether or not there should be a government inquiry into the 1985 [[Air India Flight 182|Air India]] disaster. On November 23, 2005, Rae recommended further inquiry into the investigation and prosecution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.securitepublique.gc.ca/prg/ns/airs/_fl/rep1-en.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127201803/http://www.securitepublique.gc.ca/prg/ns/airs/_fl/rep1-en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2007 |title=Rae, Bob. Lessons to be Learned. 2005 |access-date=January 28, 2012 }}</ref>

In July 2005, ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' and the ''[[National Post]]'' both reported that Rae was again being considered for appointment to the position of Governor General.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} However, Rae was passed over again, this time in favour of [[Michaëlle Jean]].

=== Return to politics as a Liberal ===
{{See also|2006 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election}}
[[File:Protests against prorogation in Toronto (6).jpg|thumb|right|Rae attending a protest in Toronto Centre]]
In a July 2005 interview with [[Michael Valpy]], Rae indicated that he was still committed to public life and public service. Valpy's feature on Rae included a comment by Arlene Perly Rae that he could return to politics if there was a [[Canadian federalism|national unity]] crisis.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

On November 23, 2005, Rae presented his recommendations that there should be a formal but focused inquiry into the ''Air India'' disaster. Two days later, Deputy Prime Minister [[Anne McLellan]] announced Rae's appointment to conduct a limited inquiry into ''Air India'' under a government [[order-in-council]].  Rae produced a comprehensive report outlining the key issues that could be addressed, leaving Air India Victims' families spokeswoman [[Lata Pada]] "encouraged that demands for answers will be addressed".{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

On August 24, 2005, the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' reported that Rae was under "mounting pressure" to run for the federal Liberals in the [[2006 Canadian federal election|2006 general election]]. Though it was unclear how long the Air India inquiry was to last, Rae's appointment precluded any possibility of his running as a candidate in the January 23 election. A poll by SES Research suggested that Rae was tied for second place behind [[Frank McKenna]] as a prospective candidate to lead the federal Liberals. McKenna decided afterwards not to contest the leadership.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

The new government of [[Stephen Harper]] appointed a judge to handle the Air India inquiry in March 2006 thus releasing Rae from his previous commitment and freeing him for a possible run for the [[2006 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|Liberal Party leadership]].{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

In a speech to the Canadian Club of [[Winnipeg]] on March 13, 2006, Rae expressed his interest in uniting the "progressive" forces of Canada to regain a majority government in the [[House of Commons of Canada]]. "There's a progressive record that's shared by a majority of Canadians, but so far, we have not succeeded in becoming a majority in the House of Commons, so we must think a bit about how that can happen."<ref name=ce/>

==== 2006 leadership election ====
[[File:Bob Rae addressing the press at the Liberal Leadership Convention.jpg|thumb|Bob Rae speaking to the press on Day 1 of the Liberal Leadership Convention in Montreal]]

On April 5, 2006, Rae applied for membership in the [[Liberal Party of Canada]]. His candidacy for the federal party leadership was supported by [[Greg Sorbara]] and [[George Smitherman]],<ref>{{cite news |title = Rae puts in application to join Liberal Party |first = Campbell |last = Clark |work = The Globe and Mail |publisher = Bell Globemedia Publishing Inc. |date = April 5, 2006 |access-date = September 25, 2006 |location = Toronto |url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/rae-puts-in-application-to-join-liberal-party/article1097534/ |archive-date = November 29, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129121547/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/rae-puts-in-application-to-join-liberal-party/article1097534/ |url-status = live }}</ref> former Chrétien aides [[Eddie Goldenberg]] and Rae's brother John,<ref>{{cite news |first = F. Abbas |last = Rana |title = Coderre denies he's supporting Rae, Kennedy to announce run and Grit leadership race gets interesting |url = http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2006/april/3/liberal_lead/&c=1 |work = The Hill Times |publisher = Hill Times Publishing Inc. |date = April 3, 2006 |access-date = September 25, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081209115213/http://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=%2F2006%2Fapril%2F3%2Fliberal_lead%2F&c=1 |archive-date = December 9, 2008 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref> as well as former top Martin advisor John Webster and others associated with the Martin camp.<ref name="CBC News Rae joins Liberal 2006/04/24">{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rae-joins-liberal-leadership-race-1.570870 | title=Rae joins Liberal leadership race | publisher=[[CBC News]] | date=April 24, 2006 | access-date=December 4, 2012 | archive-date=November 4, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104055832/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2006/04/24/rae060424.html | url-status=live }}</ref> He announced his candidacy on April 24, 2006. At his campaign launch he responded to his critics by saying, "I made mistakes before I was in politics, I made mistakes when I was in politics, I made mistakes as premier&nbsp;... I can only tell you I have learned from those mistakes and I am the wiser for them."<ref>{{cite news |first = Tara |last = Brautigam |author2 = Canadian Press |title = Former Ont. Premier Bob Rae formally enters Liberal leadership race |url = http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=82e1a37c-8b84-4551-bcf0-c8869853cc9d&k=39445 |work = National Post |date = April 24, 2006 |access-date = September 25, 2006 |archive-date = March 4, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090247/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=82e1a37c-8b84-4551-bcf0-c8869853cc9d&k=39445 |url-status = live }}</ref> Rae's predecessor as premier, [[David Peterson]], who was supporting [[Michael Ignatieff]], criticized Rae's entry into the race due to his record as NDP provincial premier, though insisting that he did not hold a personal grudge against Rae.<ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060405/peterson_rae_060405/20060405?hub=Canada David Peterson warns Bob Rae won't be welcome. CTV News. April 5, 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313184631/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060405/peterson_rae_060405/20060405?hub=Canada |date=March 13, 2007 }}</ref>

On May 12, 2006, [[Pierre Trudeau|Trudeau]]-era Deputy Prime Minister [[Allan MacEachen]] backed Rae's leadership bid becoming honorary campaign chair.<ref>{{cite news| title=Legendary Liberal Allan MacEachen backs former NDPer Rae for Grit leadership |last=Bryden |first=Joan |date=May 12, 2006 |newspaper=Toronto Star}}</ref> On June 16, former Ontario Liberal Party leader and provincial treasurer [[Robert Nixon (politician)|Robert Nixon]], who sat as leader of the opposition to Rae's Ontario government for a time, endorsed Rae.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bobrae.ca/en/news.php#16 |title= Bob Rae|website=www.bobrae.ca |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615222211/http://www.bobrae.ca/en/news.php#16 |archive-date=June 15, 2006}}</ref> He was also endorsed by [[House of Commons of Canada|MPs]] [[Irwin Cotler]], [[Ujjal Dosanjh]], [[Lawrence MacAulay]], [[Diane Marleau]] and [[Brian Murphy (politician)|Brian Murphy]], as well as several [[Senate of Canada|Senators]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bobrae.ca/en/news.php#23 |title= Bob Rae|website=www.bobrae.ca |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615222211/http://www.bobrae.ca/en/news.php#23 |archive-date=June 15, 2006}}</ref> Rival candidate [[Maurizio Bevilacqua]] withdrew from the contest on August 14 to endorse Rae,<ref>{{cite news |title=MP Bevilacqua throws weight behind Rae |last=O'Neill |first=Juliet |newspaper=The Gazette |location=Montreal, Quebec |date=August 15, 2006 |page=A12}}</ref> and [[Carolyn Bennett]] did the same on September 15,<ref>{{cite news |title=Bennett drops out, backs Rae: Second candidate to withdraw says campaign ran out of steam |last=Ward |first=Doug |newspaper=Edmonton Journal |date=September 16, 2006 |page=A6}}</ref> followed by [[Hedy Fry]] on September 25<ref>{{cite news |title=Fry drops out of Liberal race |newspaper=Times&nbsp;– Colonist |location=Victoria, B.C |date=September 26, 2006 |page=A6}}</ref> and [[John Godfrey]] on October 20.
On the night of December 1 at the Convention, Rae spoke freely without notes rather than make a formal speech.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} Rival candidate [[Joe Volpe]] announced his support for Rae after the speeches were concluded. On the morning of December 2, after finishing second on the first ballot, rival candidate [[Scott Brison]], moved to Rae and yet another rival candidate, [[Ken Dryden]], moved to him after the second ballot.  However, Rae lost his bid for the leadership in the third round of Convention balloting, placing third behind both [[Michael Ignatieff]] and [[Stéphane Dion]], who had leapfrogged into first after receiving the support of [[Gerard Kennedy]].  Rae then freed his delegates and did not indicate whom he supported on the final ballot; Dion won the leadership.

Despite the loss of the Liberal leadership, Rae had indicated that he would like to run for a federal seat in the House of Commons in the next federal election.<ref>{{cite news |author=gloria galloway |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/rae-still-aims-to-seek-a-seat-in-parliament/article4301259/ |title=Rae still aims to seek a seat in Parliament |work=The Globe and Mail |date=December 4, 2006 |access-date=May 24, 2015 |location=Toronto |archive-date=May 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525061836/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/rae-still-aims-to-seek-a-seat-in-parliament/article4301259/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On March 7, 2007, Rae announced that he would seek the Liberal nomination in [[Toronto Centre (federal electoral district)|Toronto Centre]].<ref>{{cite news | agency=The Canadian Press | title=Rae officially announces bid to run for Liberals | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070307.wbobrae0307/BNStory/National/home | work=The Globe and Mail | date=March 7, 2007 | access-date=March 7, 2007 | location=Toronto | archive-date=March 9, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309134223/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070307.wbobrae0307/BNStory/National/home | url-status=live }}</ref> On March 26, 2007, he won the party's nomination, defeating Toronto lawyer and human rights advocate Meredith Cartwright with 532 votes to her 267.<ref>{{cite news | author=Isabel Teotonio | title=Rae wins Liberal nomination | url=https://www.thestar.com/article/196359 | work=Toronto Star | date=March 27, 2007 | access-date=April 1, 2003 | archive-date=September 29, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929151005/http://www.thestar.com/article/196359 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Several days following his defeat at the leadership convention it was reported that Rae's wife, [[Arlene Perly Rae]] was approached by a delegate who did not know who she was, and who told her that she should not vote for Rae because his wife is Jewish. A flyer was also sent electronically to convention delegates, stating that Rae's wife was a vice-president of the [[Canadian Jewish Congress]] and that he was a supporter of [[Israeli apartheid]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Joan Bryden |title=Bob Rae target of anti-Semitism in recent Liberal leadership contest |url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=99130818-bcae-4995-8226-883693331f43&k=98092 |agency=The Canadian Press |date=December 8, 2006 |access-date=December 9, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080205220313/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=99130818-bcae-4995-8226-883693331f43&k=98092 |archive-date=February 5, 2008 }}</ref> The Canadian Press reported that the flyer was produced by Ron Saba, the editor of a small Montreal journal.  Newly elected Liberal leader Stéphane Dion issued a press release condemning the "hateful comments" made against Rae and his wife, saying that they are "reprehensible and will not be tolerated within the Liberal Party of Canada", adding that "there is no room for abhorrent comments such as these within our Party".<ref>[http://www.liberal.ca/news_e.aspx?type=pressrelease&id=12112 Statement from Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion Regarding the Anti-Semitic Comments Made Against Bob Rae and Arlene Perly Rae, December 8, 2006]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210161630/http://www.liberal.ca/news_e.aspx?type=pressrelease&id=12112 |date=December 10, 2008 }}</ref>

Rae was named co-chair of the Liberals' platform development committee, with [[Scott Brison]].<ref name=ce/>

==== Federal Liberal MP ====
[[File:Ignatieff and Rae April 2011.jpg|thumb|Rae and Ignatieff in 2011]]
In the by-election held on March 17, 2008, Rae won handily.<ref name=ce/> Toronto Centre had historically been one of the few ridings in the former [[Metro Toronto]] where the old Progressive Conservatives had a realistic chance of winning.  However, since 1993, the Liberals have dominated the riding (as has been the case with most Toronto ridings), carrying it by 10,000 votes or more.  Rae kept this tradition going; he finished almost 11,000 votes ahead of his closest opponent and with more than 4,400 votes than his five opponents combined (14,187 to 9,764). Rae's candidacy was endorsed by the former Conservative candidate [[Mark Warner (Canadian politician)|Mark Warner]], who was dropped due to disagreements with the party on social and urban issues.  Rae had denounced the Tories' decision to drop Warner, calling it a "national disgrace."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/tories-drop-2-would-be-ontario-candidates-1.669195 | publisher=[[CBC News]] | title=Tories drop 2 would-be Ontario candidates | date=October 31, 2007 | access-date=May 24, 2015 | archive-date=May 31, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531064438/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/tories-drop-2-would-be-ontario-candidates-1.669195 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Rae returned to Parliament on March 31, 2008, after a 25-year absence.  He was immediately promoted to the Liberal shadow cabinet as Foreign Affairs critic (shadow foreign minister). In that role he publicly [[Canada and Iraq War Resisters#Liberal Party Foreign Affairs Critic Publicly Supports Jeremy Hinzman|supported Iraq War resisters]] seeking asylum in Canada before and during the 2008 election campaign. He was re-elected to his Commons' seat in the fall 2008 federal election. When Dion announced that he would resign the leadership in May 2009 after the party's poor results, Rae became a candidate in the [[2009 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|ensuing Liberal leadership election]].{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Rae took part in negotiations for the Liberals to form a coalition with the NDP, with support from the Bloc Québécois. They planned to pass a motion of non-confidence in the Conservative government, not unlike what Rae had done in 1979 and 1985. After Prime Minister Harper convinced the Governor General to prorogue parliament on December 4, 2008, and with Dion pressured to resign immediately as party leader, Rae took on the role of coalition spokesman.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

Rae found it more difficult to garner support than he had in the last leadership contest, with his 2006 campaign co-chair now supporting Ignatieff. As it was obvious that Ignatieff had lined up enough support to become the party's leader, Rae withdrew on December 9, 2008. He has since criticized Ignatieff's decision to withdraw from the coalition with the NDP.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/theagenda/index.cfm?page_id=7&bpn=109372&ts=2011-08-22%2020:00:00.0 |title=Episode 172 &#124; The Agenda |publisher=Tvo.org |date=August 22, 2011 |access-date=January 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920172510/http://www.tvo.org/cfmx/tvoorg/theagenda/index.cfm?page_id=7 |archive-date=September 20, 2011 }}</ref>

He served as Foreign Affairs critic in the [[shadow cabinet]]s of both Dion and Ignatieff. On June 9, 2009, Rae was denied entry by Sri Lankan Immigration officials at the [[Bandaranaike International Airport]], Colombo, [[Sri Lanka]] on grounds that he was "a threat to national security and sympathetic to the [[LTTE|Tamil Tigers]] rebel group". Rae responded, "Sri Lanka is afraid of dialogue, afraid of discussion, afraid of engagement&nbsp;... If this is how they treat me, imagine how they treat people who can't speak out." Rae has described Sri Lanka as 'a very dangerous place to be a journalist. "It's a very dangerous place to be any kind of [[Sri Lankan Tamil people|Tamil]] right now and this is nuts."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rae-dumbfounded-after-sri-lanka-denies-him-entry-1.776956 | title=Ottawa complains to Sri Lanka for booting Rae | publisher=[[CBC News]] | date=June 10, 2009 | access-date=January 26, 2020 | archive-date=May 28, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528115624/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rae-dumbfounded-after-sri-lanka-denies-him-entry-1.776956 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rae-dumbfounded-after-sri-lanka-denies-him-entry-1.776956 | title=Rae 'dumbfounded' after Sri Lanka denies him entry | publisher=[[CBC News]] | date=June 10, 2009 | access-date=January 26, 2020 | archive-date=May 28, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528115624/http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rae-dumbfounded-after-sri-lanka-denies-him-entry-1.776956 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=1681300|title=Bob Rae denied entry to Sri Lanka|access-date=January 27, 2019|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107220647/https://calgaryherald.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In November 2009, Rae sponsored a motion for Canada to recognize [[Black Ribbon Day]] to commemorate the victims of Nazi and Communist regimes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2009/11/30/aug_23_to_become_black_ribbon_day_for_victims_of_nazis_soviets.html|title=Aug. 23 to become Black Ribbon Day for victims of Nazis, Soviets|date=November 30, 2009|work=[[Toronto Star]]|access-date=August 24, 2018|archive-date=August 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824101729/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2009/11/30/aug_23_to_become_black_ribbon_day_for_victims_of_nazis_soviets.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Interim Liberal leader ====
In the aftermath of the 2011 federal election in which the Liberals were reduced to third place behind the NDP, Rae speculated on national television about the possibility of future co-operation between the two parties.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stinson|first=Scott|title=Scott Stinson: Bob Rae's merger comments hang over Liberals|url=https://nationalpost.com/full-comment/scott-stinson-bob-rae-last-hope-for-liberal-ndp-merger-talk|access-date=May 1, 2012|newspaper=National Post|date=May 9, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710183422/http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/05/09/scott-stinson-bob-rae-last-hope-for-liberal-ndp-merger-talk/|archive-date=July 10, 2012}}</ref> Following Ignatieff's announcement that he would be resigning as leader, Rae was touted as a possible successor. However, his advocacy of a possible Liberal-NDP merger caused consternation among some Liberals. Former Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien reportedly called senior Liberals urging Rae's selection as interim leader.<ref>{{cite news|last=Naumetz|first=Tim|title=Former PM Chrétien lobbied for Rae as interim leader|url=http://www.hilltimes.com/news/2011/05/10/former-pm-chrétien-lobbied-for-rae-as-interim-leader/27866|access-date=May 1, 2012|newspaper=The Hill Times|date=May 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124115614/http://www.hilltimes.com/news/2011/05/10/former-pm-chr%C3%A9tien-lobbied-for-rae-as-interim-leader/27866|archive-date=January 24, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the Liberal National Board announced that the interim leader position could only be held by an individual who agreed not to seek the permanent leadership and not to seek to change the party or merge it with another party during his tenure.<ref>{{cite news|title=Liberals delay decision on finding interim leader|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/liberals-delay-decision-on-finding-interim-leader-1.642657|access-date=May 1, 2012|publisher=CTV|date=May 11, 2011|archive-date=June 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629154153/http://www.ctvnews.ca/liberals-delay-decision-on-finding-interim-leader-1.642657|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On May 19, 2011, Rae declared that he would not be running for leadership for the Liberal Party, but would instead seek the [[Interim leader (Canada)|interim leader]]ship position. He was chosen over Quebec MP [[Marc Garneau]] for the interim leadership on May 25, 2011.<ref name="britannica.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Rae|title=Bob Rae &#124; Canadian politician|access-date=November 25, 2018|archive-date=November 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126010029/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Rae|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Rae named Liberal interim leader|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/bob-rae-named-liberal-interim-leader|access-date=May 1, 2012|newspaper=National Post|date=May 25, 2011|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130131211/https://nationalpost.com/category/news/|url-status=live}}</ref> While Rae had been widely expected to resign the post of interim leader and make a bid for the permanent leadership<ref>{{cite news|last=Bryden|first=Joan|title=Rae to decide soon on Liberal leadership bid|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/253421/rae-to-decide-soon-on-liberal-leadership-bid/|access-date=May 24, 2015|newspaper=Global News|date=June 6, 2012|archive-date=May 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525060206/http://globalnews.ca/news/253421/rae-to-decide-soon-on-liberal-leadership-bid/|url-status=live}}</ref> he announced on June 13, 2012, that he would not be a candidate in the [[2013 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election|Liberal leadership election]].<ref name=raeout>{{cite news|last=Ibbitson|first=John|title=Rae won't seek Liberal leadership|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/rae-wont-seek-liberal-leadership/article4255399/|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=June 13, 2012|date=June 13, 2012|location=Toronto|archive-date=June 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120613181551/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/rae-wont-seek-liberal-leadership/article4255399/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Earlier in 2011, Rae was voted ''[[Maclean's]]'' Parliamentarian of the Year by members of the [[41st Canadian Parliament|41st Parliament]].<ref name="Parliamentarian of the Year">{{cite web | url=http://www.macleans.ca/politics/parliamentarian-of-the-year-bob-rae/ | title=Parliamentarian of the Year: Bob Rae | work=[[Maclean's]] | date=November 21, 2011 | access-date=October 16, 2015 | author=Wherry, Aaron | archive-date=October 17, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017170009/http://www.macleans.ca/politics/parliamentarian-of-the-year-bob-rae/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Journalist Carol Goar viewed Rae as the de facto leader of the Opposition in the six months between the death of NDP leader [[Jack Layton]] in August 2011 and the election of [[Thomas Mulcair]] in March 2012.<ref name="Saved the Liberal party">{{cite news | url=https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/04/12/bob_rae_saved_the_liberal_party_goar.html | title=Bob Rae saved the Liberal party: Goar | work=[[Toronto Star]] | date=April 12, 2013 | access-date=October 16, 2015 | author=Goar, Carol | archive-date=October 17, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017170009/http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/04/12/bob_rae_saved_the_liberal_party_goar.html | url-status=live }}</ref> When [[Justin Trudeau]] was elected the new permanent leader in April 2013,<ref name="britannica.com"/> Rae had become the longest serving interim leader, having served almost two years in this capacity. As new leader, Trudeau named Rae the Liberal party's foreign affairs critic.<ref>[http://www.ipolitics.ca/2013/04/17/trudeau-appoints-rae-as-liberals-foreign-affairs-critic Trudeau appoints Rae as Liberal's foreign affairs critic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015357/https://ipolitics.ca/2013/04/17/trudeau-appoints-rae-as-liberals-foreign-affairs-critic/ |date=November 12, 2020 }} iPolitics 2013 April 17</ref>

When Justin Trudeau won the 2015 elections and became Prime Minister, Rae was given considerable credit for laying the foundations for the turnaround in the fortunes of the Liberal Party.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The Liberal Resurrection|url = https://nationalpost.com/features/the-liberal-resurrection|website = National Post|access-date = October 25, 2015|archive-date = November 30, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211130131312/https://nationalpost.com/category/news/|url-status = live}}</ref>

== Post-political career ==
On June 19, 2013, Rae announced that he would be leaving parliament<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://exparl.ca/fr/prix/bob-rae-2018-lifetime-achievement-award/|title=Bob Rae - 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award|access-date=November 26, 2018|archive-date=November 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127022541/https://exparl.ca/fr/prix/bob-rae-2018-lifetime-achievement-award/|url-status=live}}</ref> in order to serve as chief negotiator and counsel for the [[Matawa First Nations]] in [[Northern Ontario Ring of Fire|Northern Ontario's Ring of Fire]];<ref name="Bob Rae stepping down" /> his resignation took effect on July 31.<ref name=departure/> Rae also joined the [[University of Toronto School of Public Policy and Governance]] as a distinguished senior fellow, effective July 1, 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bob Rae moves to U of T|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/07/04/bob_rae_moves_to_u_of_t.html|access-date=July 4, 2013|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=July 4, 2013|archive-date=July 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707101238/http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/07/04/bob_rae_moves_to_u_of_t.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 13, Rae joined the National Advisory Board for [[Fair Vote Canada]], an organization promoting [[Elections in Canada#Adopted and attempted reforms|electoral reform for Canadian elections]].<ref name="Bob Rae joins Fair Vote Canada's">{{cite web | url=http://www.fairvote.ca/bob-rae-joins-fair-vote-canadas-national-advisory-board-bob-rae-se-joint-au-conseil-consultatif-national-de-representation-equitable-au-canada/ | title=Bob Rae joins Fair Vote Canada's National Advisory Board | publisher=Fair Vote Canada | date=July 13, 2013 | access-date=July 17, 2013 | archive-date=February 5, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205213800/http://www.fairvote.ca/bob-rae-joins-fair-vote-canadas-national-advisory-board-bob-rae-se-joint-au-conseil-consultatif-national-de-representation-equitable-au-canada/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Later in July, Rae became the chairman of the board for the FN (PTP) Group Limited Partnership (FNLP), which represents the 15 British Columbian First Nations that signed a  $200&nbsp;million commercial deal with the Pacific Trail Pipelines Limited Partnership, a part of the Kitimat LNG Project that plans to use a pipeline to move [[liquified natural gas]] to a terminal on the coast of British Columbia.<ref name="Bob Rae to head First Nations board">{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bob-rae-to-head-first-nations-board-for-b-c-pipeline-1.1325069 | title=Bob Rae to head First Nations board for B.C. pipeline | publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=July 24, 2013 | access-date=July 29, 2013 | author=Fitzpatrick, Meagan | archive-date=July 28, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728040701/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/07/24/pol-bob-rae-chairman-board.html | url-status=live }}</ref> In February 2014, Rae became a partner in the law firm Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP, a law firm which specializes in representing Aboriginal communities across the country.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

After stepping down, Rae has also become a public speaker focusing on Canada's role in the world, Aboriginal issues, human rights, healthcare, and education.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Bob Rae {{!}} Speaker {{!}} National Speakers Bureau|url = http://nsb.com/speakers/bob-rae/|website = National Speakers Bureau|access-date = October 15, 2015|archive-date = October 17, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151017170009/http://nsb.com/speakers/bob-rae/|url-status = live}}</ref>

In August 2018, [[Canada–Saudi Arabia relations|Saudi Arabia expelled]] Canada's ambassador, and froze trade with Canada.<ref>[https://globalnews.ca/news/4372563/saudi-arabia-expels-canada-ambassador/ Saudi Arabia expels Canada's ambassador, freezes trade with Ottawa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220124444/https://globalnews.ca/news/4372563/saudi-arabia-expels-canada-ambassador/ |date=February 20, 2020 }}, August 5, 2018</ref> Rae wrote on Twitter: "The Brits and the Trumpians run for cover and say 'we're friends with both the Saudis and the Canadians. Thanks for the support for human rights, guys, and we'll remember this one for sure."<ref>{{cite news |title='We don't have a single friend': Canada's Saudi spat reveals country is alone |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/canada-saudi-arabia-support-us |work=The Guardian |date=August 11, 2018 |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-date=October 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022140408/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/11/canada-saudi-arabia-support-us |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Diplomatic career===
{{see also|Foreign policy of the Justin Trudeau government}}

In late 2017, Prime Minister Trudeau appointed Rae Canada's special envoy to [[Myanmar]] in response to the [[Rohingya persecution in Myanmar (2016–present)|Rohingya human rights crisis]] and the suspected [[ethnic cleansing]]<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/10/23/prime-minister-appoints-honourable-bob-rae-special-envoy-myanmar|title = Prime Minister appoints the Honourable Bob Rae as Special Envoy to Myanmar|date = October 23, 2017|access-date = November 26, 2018|archive-date = November 27, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181127064702/https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/10/23/prime-minister-appoints-honourable-bob-rae-special-envoy-myanmar|url-status = live}}</ref> of the minority population by the Myanmar government. Rae advised the prime minister on the issue and was expected  to attempt to obtain permission from Myanmar to visit [[Rakhine State|Rakhine]] province. He also has a mandate "to promote accountability for alleged crimes perpetrated against vulnerable populations, including the Rohingya Muslim community, other religious and ethnic minorities, and women and girls".<ref name="bobburma">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bob-rae-special-envoy-myanmar-trudeau-rohingya-1.4366689|title=Trudeau appoints Bob Rae as special envoy to Myanmar|last=Ayed|first=Nahlah|date=October 22, 2017|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=October 23, 2017|archive-date=October 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023122058/http://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4366689|url-status=live}}</ref> His term ended on April 3, 2018, upon delivering his report to Trudeau.<ref name=LibraryOfParliament>{{cite web | title=Profile | url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=5257 }}</ref>

On March 10, 2020, Rae was named Canada's Special Envoy on Humanitarian and Refugee Issues.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Prime Minister announces Special Envoy on humanitarian and refugee issues |url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/03/10/prime-minister-announces-special-envoy-humanitarian-and-refugee |access-date=July 7, 2020 |work=Prime Minister's Office |date=March 10, 2020 |archive-date=July 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706223624/https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/03/10/prime-minister-announces-special-envoy-humanitarian-and-refugee |url-status=live }}</ref>

On July 6, 2020, Trudeau named him [[Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations]].<ref name="un"/>

In November 2020, Rae called on the UN to investigate evidence of genocide against the Uighur minority in China.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bob Rae calls on UN to investigate evidence of genocide against China's Uighur minority |language=en-US|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bob-rae-genocide-investigation-uighur-minority-1.5802920|access-date=2020-12-29|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230232010/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bob-rae-genocide-investigation-uighur-minority-1.5802920|url-status=live}}</ref> After the [[2023 Saint Petersburg bombing|killing]] of Russia military blogger [[Vladlen Tatarsky]] in April 2023, Rae made a statement on Twitter describing him as a "vitriolic propagandist" for his support of the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]]. In response, Russia lodged a formal diplomatic protest to Canada.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 7, 2023 |title=Russia protests to Canada over envoy's remarks about dead blogger |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-protests-canada-over-envoys-remarks-about-dead-blogger-2023-04-07/ |access-date=April 7, 2023}}</ref> He was appointed co-facilitator of the 8th Review of the UN's Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy,<ref>{{cite web | title=United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy &#124; Office of Counter-Terrorism | url=https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/un-global-counter-terrorism-strategy }}</ref> a process he led to a consensus adoption by the UN General Assembly in June 2023.

On 25 July 2024, Rae was elected the eightieth President of the Economic and Social Council for the 2025 session.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title='A Critical Moment': Ambassador Bob Rae on Being Elected ECOSOC President |url=https://www.policymagazine.ca/a-critical-moment-ambassador-bob-rae-on-being-elected-ecosoc-president/ |author=Bob Rae |date=July 25, 2024 |access-date=August 2, 2024 |magazine=Policy Magazine (Canada) |location=New York, United Nations}}</ref> He retired as Canada's UN ambassador in 2025, with [[David Lametti]] being appointed to succeed him on November 17.<ref name=jus/><ref>{{cite web | title=Prime Minister Carney announces upcoming diplomatic appointments | date=September 18, 2025 | url=https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/09/18/prime-minister-carney-announces-upcoming-diplomatic }}</ref>

=== Academic career ===
In November 2025, Rae presented a lecture at [[Queen's University at Kingston]] at their School of Policy Studies,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former Premier Bob Rae to join Queen’s community as a Faculty Fellow in Global Public Policy|url=https://www.queensjournal.ca/former-premier-bob-rae-to-join-queens-community-as-a-faculty-fellow-in-global-public-policy/|website=The Queen's Journal|date=2025-11-21|access-date=2025-11-28|language=en-US|first=Sarah|last=Adams}}</ref> whereafter it was announced that he would be joining the university as a [[Fellow]] in Global Public Policy <ref>{{Cite web|title=The Honourable Bob Rae is joining Queen’s School of Policy Studies as a Matthews Fellow {{!}} School of Policy Studies|url=https://www.queensu.ca/sps/honourable-bob-rae-joining-queens-school-policy-studies-matthews-fellow|website=www.queensu.ca|access-date=2025-11-28}}</ref> for a three year term.  

== Electoral record ==

=== Toronto Centre ===
{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2011|percent=yes|change=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Bob Rae|22,617|40.9%|−12.7%}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Susan Wallace|16,607|30.0%|+14.9%}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Kevin Moore|12,505|22.6%|+3.7%}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Ellen Michelson|2,949|5.3%|−6.5%}}
{{CANelec|CA|Libertarian|Judi Falardeau|271|0.5%|}}
{{CANelec|CA|Communist|Catherine Holliday|165|0.3%|−0.1%}}
{{CANelec|XX|Independent|Bahman Yazdanfar|108|0.2%|}}
{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Philip Fernandez|75|0.1%|−0.1%}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|55,297|100.0%|}}
{{end}}

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2008|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Bob Rae|27,577 | 53.6%|−5.6% |$49,548}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|David Gentili|9,405 | 18.3%|+5.8%|$23,136 }}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|[[El-Farouk Khaki]]| 7,744| 15.1%|+1.3% |$21,750}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Ellen Michelson | 6,081| 11.8%|−1.8% |$23,194}}
{{CANelec|CA|Communist|Johan Boyden | 193| 0.4%|+0.2%** |$432}}
{{CANelec|CA|AAEVPC|[[Liz White (politician)|Liz White]]|187 | 0.4%| −0.1%|$686}}
{{CANelec|XX|Independent|Gerald Derome| 155| 0.3%|n/a|$2,100}}
{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Philip Fernandez| 92| 0.2%| +0.09%**|| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|51,434|100% |$92,068}}
{{end}}
<small>**as compared to the 2006 General Election</small>

{{2008 Canadian federal by-elections/Toronto Centre}}

=== York South ===
{{1995 Ontario general election/York South}}

{{1990 Ontario general election/York South}}

{{1987 Ontario general election/York South}}

{{1985 Ontario general election/York South}}

{{1982 Ontario provincial by-elections/York South}}

=== Broadview—Greenwood ===
{{1980 Canadian federal election/Broadview—Greenwood}}

{{1979 Canadian federal election/Broadview—Greenwood}}

=== Broadview ===
{{1978 Canadian federal by-elections/Broadview}}

== Honours ==

===Commonwealth honours===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:20%;"| Location
! style="width:20%;"| Date
! style="width:55%;"| Appointment
! style="width:5%;"| Post-nominal letters
|-
| {{Flagu|Canada}} || '''May 31, 2001{{spaced ndash}}February 12, 2016''' || [[Order of Canada|Officer of the Order of Canada]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Rae's Order of Canada Citations |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-7290 |website=Governor General of Canada |access-date=3 April 2022|language=en}}</ref> || OC
|-
| {{Flagu|Canada}} || '''February 12, 2016{{spaced ndash}}Present''' || [[Order of Canada|Companion of the Order of Canada]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Rae's Order of Canada Citations |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-7290 |website=Governor General of Canada |access-date=3 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>[http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1296405-four-nova-scotians-among-order-of-canada-honourees "Four Nova Scotians among Order of Canada honourees"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613134234/http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1296405-four-nova-scotians-among-order-of-canada-honourees |date=June 13, 2018 }}. ''[[The Chronicle-Herald]]'', July 1, 2015.</ref> || CC
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''2003{{spaced ndash}}Present''' || [[Order of Ontario|Member of the Order of Ontario]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Order of Ontario Members |url=https://www.ontario.ca/page/order-ontario#section-7 |website=Government of Ontario |date=December 2, 2016 |access-date=3 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref> || O.Ont
|-
| {{Flagu|Canada}} || '''1992''' || [[125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal]] ||
|-
| {{Flagu|Canada}} || '''2002''' || [[Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal]] (Canadian Version) || <ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Rae's Golden Jubilee Medal Citation |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/125-43440 |website=Governor General of Canada |access-date=3 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Canada}} || '''2012''' || [[Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal]] (Canadian Version) || <ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Rae's Diamond Jubilee Medal Citation |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/126-104383 |website=Governor General of Canada |access-date=3 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Foreign honours===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:20%;"| Location
! style="width:20%;"| Date
! style="width:55%;"| Appointment
! style="width:5%;"| Post-nominal letters
|-
| {{Flagu|Estonia}} || '''February 2, 2011{{spaced ndash}}Present''' || [[Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana]] (3rd Class) || <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.president.ee/en/estonia/decorations/bearers.php?id=18233 |title=Bearers of decorations |publisher=Office of the President |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905011601/http://www.president.ee/en/estonia/decorations/bearers.php?id=18233 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Lithuania}} || '''March 10, 2022{{spaced ndash}}Present''' || Diplomatic Star || <ref>{{cite web |title=Photograph of Bob Rae Wearing the Diplomatic Star |url=https://twitter.com/BobRae48/status/1502047517940269062 |website=Twitter |access-date=3 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Honorary degrees===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:20%;"| Location
! style="width:20%;"| Date
! style="width:40%;"| School
! style="width:20%;"| Degree
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''1998''' || [[Law Society of Upper Canada]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lsuc.on.ca/with.aspx?id=762|title=Honorary LLD|publisher=The Law Society of Upper Canada|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-date=March 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316062952/http://lsuc.on.ca/with.aspx?id=762|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''June 1999''' || [[University of Toronto]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Assets/Governing+Council+Digital+Assets/Boards+and+Committees/Committee+for+Honorary+Degrees/degreerecipients1850tillnow.pdf|title=Honorary Degree Recipients|publisher=University of Toronto|year=2015|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-date=October 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001101642/http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Assets/Governing+Council+Digital+Assets/Boards+and+Committees/Committee+for+Honorary+Degrees/degreerecipients1850tillnow.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''2001''' || [[Assumption University (Windsor, Ontario)|Assumption University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''November 14, 2002''' || [[Huntington University (Canada)|Huntington University]] || Doctor of Sacred Letters<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northernlife.ca/news/localNews/2002/2748911-10-02---express-news.aspx|title=Huntington to give Bob Rae degree|date=March 20, 2006 |publisher=Northern Life|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010614/http://www.northernlife.ca/news/localNews/2002/2748911-10-02---express-news.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''November 11, 2005''' || [[Fanshawe College]] || Bachelor of Applied Studies<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fsu.ca/interrobang.php?storyID=443|title=Former Premier Bob Rae officially a Fanshawe graduate|first=Diana|last=Forbes|publisher=Fanshawe College|date=November 14, 2005|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116100730/https://www.fsu.ca/interrobang.php?storyID=443|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''May 25, 2006''' || [[Queen's University at Kingston|Queen's University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queensu.ca/registrar/sites/webpublish.queensu.ca.uregwww/files/files/HDrecipients.pdf|title=Honorary Degrees|publisher=Queen's University|year=2011|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-date=February 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227133354/http://queensu.ca/registrar/sites/webpublish.queensu.ca.uregwww/files/files/HDrecipients.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''June 2006''' || [[McMaster University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/reports_lists/S_HD_Recipients.pdf|title=Honorary Degree Recipients (Chronological)|publisher=McMaster University|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202030846/http://www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/reports_lists/S_HD_Recipients.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Israel}} || '''November 14, 2010''' || [[University of Haifa]] || Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''April 11, 2014''' || [[Carleton University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://carleton.ca/senate/honorary-degrees/honorary-degrees-awarded-since-1954/|title=Honorary degrees awarded since 1954|publisher=Carleton University|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-date=September 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911220334/https://carleton.ca/senate/honorary-degrees/honorary-degrees-awarded-since-1954/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.carleton.ca/2014/04/11/carleton-university-bestows-honorary-degree-bob-rae/|title=Carleton University Bestows Honorary Degree on Bob Rae – Carleton Newsroom Archives|website=newsroom.carleton.ca|access-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529054518/https://newsroom.carleton.ca/2014/04/11/carleton-university-bestows-honorary-degree-bob-rae/|archive-date=May 29, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''2014''' || [[Lakehead University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/22/Honorary%20Degree%20Recipient%20List%20-%20Updated%20May%202015.pdf|title=Honorary Degree Recipients|publisher=Lakehead University|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-date=March 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313232559/https://www.lakeheadu.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/22/Honorary%20Degree%20Recipient%20List%20-%20Updated%20May%202015.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Quebec}} || '''2014''' || [[Bishop's University]] || [[Doctor of Civil Law]] (DCL)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www3.ubishops.ca/fileadmin/bishops_documents/alumni/files/newsletter/BU-Magazine-Fall2014-Winter2015-wDonor-Report.pdf|title=Convocation 2014|publisher=Bishop's Magazine|year=2014|access-date=August 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040607/http://www3.ubishops.ca/fileadmin/bishops_documents/alumni/files/newsletter/BU-Magazine-Fall2014-Winter2015-wDonor-Report.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

{{Incomplete list|date=October 2015}}

===Appointments===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:20%;"| Location
! style="width:20%;"| Date
! style="width:40%;"| Institution
! style="width:20%;"| Position
|-
| {{Flagu|Canada}} || '''1984{{spaced ndash}}Present''' || [[Government of Canada]] || [[King's Counsel]] (KC)
|-
| {{Flagu|Canada}} || '''April 30, 1998{{spaced ndash}}Present''' || [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada]] || Member (PC)
|-
|}

===Awards===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:20%;"| Location
! style="width:20%;"| Date
! style="width:40%;"| Institution
! style="width:20%;"| Award
|-
| {{Flagu|Canada}} || '''2018''' || [[Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians]] || [[Lifetime Achievement Award]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://exparl.ca/award/bob-rae-2018-lifetime-achievement-award/|title=Bob Rae - 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award|access-date=November 26, 2018|archive-date=November 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127064603/https://exparl.ca/award/bob-rae-2018-lifetime-achievement-award/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Prince Edward Island}} || '''October 30, 2020''' || [[Confederation Centre of the Arts]] || The Symons Medal<ref>{{cite web |title=Confederation Centre of the Arts Announces 2020 Symons Medallist |url=https://confederationcentre.com/news/confederation-centre-of-the-arts-announces-2020-symons-medallist/ |website=The Confederation Centre of the Arts |date=May 26, 2020 |access-date=3 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Memberships and Fellowships===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:20%;"| Location
! style="width:20%;"| Date
! style="width:40%;"| Institution
! style="width:20%;"| Position
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''2005{{spaced ndash}}Present'''  || [[The Royal Conservatory of Music]] || [[Fellow|Honorary Fellow]] (FRCMT)<ref>{{cite web |title=Honorary Fellows of The Royal Conservatory |url=https://www.rcmusic.com/about-us/honorary-fellows-of-the-royal-conservatory |website=The Royal Conservatory of Music |access-date=3 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

<!--This article uses the Cite.php citation mechanism. If you would like more information on how to add references to this article, please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite/Cite.php -->

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{official website|http://www.bobrae.ca}}
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=5257}}
* {{Ontario MPP biography|id=bob-keith-rae|old_id=351|name=Bob Keith Rae}}
* {{OCC|6085}}
* [https://aims.archives.gov.on.ca/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/DESCRIPTION_WEB/WEB_DESC_DET?SESSIONSEARCH&exp=sisn%201181 Bob Rae fonds], Archives of Ontario
* [https://discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/rae-bob-oral-history Robert Keith Rae oral history interview] held at the [https://utarms.library.utoronto.ca/ University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services]
* {{IMDb name|2109934}}
* [http://www.macleans.ca/2011/11/21/parliamentarian-of-the-year-bob-rae Bob Rae Wins Maclean's Parliamentarian of the Year Award]
* [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-keith-bob-rae Bob Rae] at The Canadian Encyclopedia
* [https://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2017/10/23/biographical-notes-bob-rae Bob Rae biography – Canada Premier]
* [https://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/famous/bob-rae-1969.html Bob Rae biography – Oxford University] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014091327/https://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/famous/bob-rae-1969.html |date=October 14, 2018 }}
* [http://archives.radio-canada.ca/politique/elections/clips/5127/ Bob Rae 1990 Government Presentation – Radio-Canada] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127022612/http://archives.radio-canada.ca/politique/elections/clips/5127/ |date=November 27, 2018 }}{{in lang|fr}}
* [https://exparl.ca/award/bob-rae-2018-lifetime-achievement-award/ Bob Rae – Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians]

{{s-start}}
{{S-off}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Larry Grossman (politician)|Larry Grossman]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)|Leader of the Opposition]] in the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]|years=1987–1990}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Robert Nixon (politician)|Robert Nixon]]}}
{{s-aca}}
{{S-bef|before=[[John E. Cleghorn]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of [[Wilfrid Laurier University]]| years=2003–2008}}
{{S-aft|after=[[John A. Pollock (businessman)|John A. Pollock]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{ONPremiers}}
{{Rae Ministry}}
{{Ontario NDP Leaders}}
{{Leaders of the Liberal Party of Canada}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rae, Bob}}
[[Category:Bob Rae| ]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Toronto Munk School]]
[[Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Canadian Anglicans]]
[[Category:Canadian King's Counsel]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Scottish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Canadian people of English descent]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Canadian Rhodes Scholars]]
[[Category:Chancellors of Wilfrid Laurier University]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian memoirists]]
[[Category:Lawyers in Ontario]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Ontario New Democratic Party]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Liberal Party of Canada]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Massey College, Toronto people]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Toronto]]
[[Category:Members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from Toronto]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Ontario]]
[[Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada]]
[[Category:New Democratic Party MPs]]
[[Category:Ontario New Democratic Party MPPs]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:Politicians from Ottawa]]
[[Category:Premiers of Ontario]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 3rd Class]]
[[Category:University of Toronto alumni]]
[[Category:University of Toronto Faculty of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the University of Toronto]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian diplomats]]
[[Category:Permanent representatives of Canada to the United Nations]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian pianists]]
[[Category:International School of Geneva alumni]]