The new credit rating matches the one set by Moody's when Premier Mike Harris came into office in the mid-1990s, famously vowing to clean up the fiscal mess left behind by previous NDP and Liberal governments. After years of austerity by the Harris government, Moody's upgraded the province to Aa2 in 2002. It raised it again to Aa1 – its second-highest rating – in 2006. The highest ratings are typically reserved for national governments.