The Progressive Conservative government of Frank Miller was re-elected in the 1985 election, but was reduced to minority status. Villeneuve was appointed to cabinet as a minister without portfolio on May 17, 1985. The PC government was short-lived and was defeated in the house a month later. For the party's November 1985 leadership convention, he shifted his support from Timbrell to Larry Grossman. In the 1987 election, Villeneuve defeated his Liberal opponent by only 607 votes. He was re-elected by a greater margin in the 1990 election, and won a landslide victory in the 1995 election as his party returned to power with a majority government.