Ontario Premier Doug Ford shuffled his cabinet today, revamping the executive council with seven new MPPs to enable his government to move quickly on major priorities for the Ontario PC’s second term in office.
The size of the provincial cabinet rises to 30, including the premier. This is an increase of two from the previous cabinet. Seven existing ministers have new or augmented roles; seven MPPs join cabinet for the first time; 19 ministers remain in their existing positions; while three ministers exit cabinet for the upcoming session of the legislature. The new ministry has seven women and 22 men, not counting the premier himself.
Premier Ford dropped former minister of sport, tourism and culture industries, Nepean MPP Lisa MacLeod and former minister of government and consumer services, Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano from the cabinet. As well, Nina Tangri, who previously served as associate minister of small business and red tape reduction, informed the premier she would be seeking the role of speaker in the upcoming session of the legislature, and would not accept a role in cabinet as a result.
New expanded portfolios announced
In order to build on the momentum coming out of a successful election campaign, the premier has made some changes to key portfolios, expanding mandates for some well-performing ministers.
Sylvia Jones, the former solicitor general, becomes the new minister of health and will also serve as deputy premier to Ford.
Prabmeet Sarkaria remains president of the treasury board, but also assumes the expanded mandate for emergency management and procurement, including Supply Ontario.
Kinga Surma remains minister of infrastructure, but assumes the additional mandate for government real estate.
Vic Fedeli assumes an additional mandate for small business while retaining the role of minister of economic development, job creation and trade.
The following experienced cabinet ministers have new roles:
- Sylvia Jones becomes Minister of Health and Deputy Premier.
- Parm Gill becomes Minister of Red Tape Reduction.
- Greg Rickford becomes Minister of Northern Development and Minister of Indigenous Affairs.
- Kaleed Rasheed becomes Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery.
The following individuals join cabinet for the first time:
- Graydon Smith becomes Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
- Michael Ford becomes Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism.
- Michael Kerzner becomes Solicitor General.
- Neil Lumsden becomes Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
- George Pirie becomes Minister of Mines with the mandate to develop the Ring of Fire.
- Michael Parsa becomes Associate Minister of Housing.
- Charmaine Williams becomes Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity.
Full list of cabinet:
- Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
- Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance
- Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care, Minister of Legislative Affairs and Government House Leader
- Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility
- Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
- Doug Downey, Attorney General
- Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities
- Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and Small Business
- Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
- Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
- Parm Gill, Minister of Red Tape Reduction
- Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General
- Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education
- Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport
- Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
- Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation and Minister of Francophone Affairs
- David Piccini, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
- Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
- George Pirie, Minister of Mines
- Kaleed Rasheed, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery
- Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development and Minister of Indigenous Affairs
- Prabmeet Sarkaria, President of the Treasury Board, with an expanded mandate for emergency management and procurement
- Todd Smith, Minister of Energy
- Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, with an additional mandate for government real estate
- Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
- Stan Cho, Associate Minister of Transportation
- Michael Parsa, Associate Minister of Housing
- Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
- Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity
