Member of Provincial Parliament
Ward was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1990 provincial election, defeating Liberal incumbent Dave Neumann in the Brantford division. The New Democratic Party won a majority government in this election under Bob Rae's leadership, and Ward entered the legislature as a government backbencher. He was parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Skills Development from 1990 to 1991 and then to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology from 1991 to 1993.
On February 3, 1993, he was promoted to minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance, where he worked under Finance Minister Floyd Laughren. He did not have formal ministerial responsibilities, and his duties included represented the Rae government at events such as pre-budgetary consultations. Ward was credited with helping to bring a women's shelter to Brantford during his time in government.
In May 1993, the Rae government cancelled a plan to move the computer and telecommunications division of the Ministry of Government Services from Toronto to Brantford, citing financial concerns. Three days earlier, Ward had told a local reporter that Brantford residents should not be worried about changes to the plan. Some criticized him as being unaware of shifts in government policy. Ward later confronted protesters who opposed the policy change and defended what he described as a "tough expenditures decision."
The New Democratic Party was defeated in the 1995 provincial election, and Ward finished third against Progressive Conservative candidate Ron Johnson in Brantford.
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