Ontario Premier Doug Ford has unveiled major changes to his cabinet after meeting with ministers on Thursday afternoon at Queen’s Park.
Several key ministers have remained in their portfolios, with Sylvia Jones staying on as minister of health, Peter Bethlenfalvy still finance minister and Paul Calandra in charge of municipal affairs and housing.
Among the most prominent changes was the announcement of Todd Smith as the new minister of education. He swapped roles with Stephen Lecce, who will take over his portfolio in charge of energy and electrification.
Some new names were also added to the cabinet, including Natalia Kusendova-Bashta in long-term care and Mike Harris in red tape reduction.
Ford and Lt.-Gov. Edith Dumont swore in a “renewed” cabinet in a closed ceremony.
The Ontario legislature rose a week early on Thursday, with MPPs sent back to their ridings for an extended summer break. Cabinet ministers, however, were told to clear their schedules and stay close.
Through the afternoon, Ford met with ministers one by one in a room near his office inside the Ontario legislature, telling reporters to expect to “be busy this afternoon.”
Ford’s new cabinet in full is as follows:
- Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
- Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance
- Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
- Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility
- Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, with responsibility for OLG
- Doug Downey, Attorney General
- Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities
- Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
- Rob Flac, Minister of Farming, Agriculture and Agribusiness
- Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
- Mike Harris, Minister of Red Tape Reduction
- Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General
- Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks
- Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care
- Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification
- Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport
- Todd McCarthy, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, with responsibility for Supply Ontario
- Caroline Mulroney, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Francophone Affairs
- Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
- David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
- George Pirie, Minister of Mines
- Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and remains Minister of Northern Development
- Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation
- Todd Smith, Minister of Education
- Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources
- Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure
- Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs
- Stephen Crawford, Associate Minister of Mines as part of the Ministry of Mines
- Trevor Jones, Associate Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response as part of Treasury Board Secretariat
- Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries as part of the Ministry of Energy and Electrification
- Nolan Quinn, Associate Minister of Forestry as part of the Ministry of Natural Resources
- Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business as part of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
- Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Housing as part of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
- Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions as part of the Ministry of Health
- Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity as part of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
This is a developing story. More to come …
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