[3] He sat on the opposition benches until the Liberals formed government under David Peterson following the 1985 election.
[5] He was retained in this position following the 1987 election, and was named Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on August 2, 1989.
[6] In 1989, Sweeney extended the Special Services at Home (SSAH) program to adults with developmental disabilities.
Out of politics, he became chair of the Canadian branch of Habitat for Humanity, and served as Chancellor of St. Jerome's University from 1992.
He was hired to examine Ontario's education system in the 1990s, and recommended cutting the number of school boards.