It’s a family affair… who’s in & who’s out
This past week the newly minted Premier of Ontario swore-in his new cabinet and he added some new faces along with a family member to run this province over the next four years or longer…and here is what the dance card looks like.
After a historic win earlier this month, Doug Ford appointed his cabinet which will be charged with implementing the PC government’s key priorities. In contrast to Ford’s 2018 cabinet he leaned heavily on opposition-era MPPs for their experience and insight. Ford now taps a roster of returning MPPs with deeper executive experience representing a diverse range of ages, backgrounds, and constituencies and adds some newly elected faces to the roster.
Premier Ford has indicated his work with other governments on securing 14 billion in new investments for the auto sector, working with indigenous partners on the road to the Ring of Fire, clean green steel in Hamilton and Sault Ste. Marie, building transportation to address congestion and growth, working for workers, and bold solutions to increase the supply of housing. His new cabinet will help drive this agenda.
The strong performers from cabinet members who managed government priorities throughout the past four years which were instrumental in delivering a large second mandate for the Ford PCs – have resulted in many keeping their roles for a second term. The Executive Council remains largely intact with a stable roster that includes returning Ministers Peter Bethlenfalvy (Finance), Caroline Mulroney (Transportation and Francophone Affairs), Doug Downey (Attorney General), Stephen Lecce (Education), David Piccini (Environment, Conservation and Parks), and Steve Clark (Municipal Affairs and Housing).
Some ministers received expanded portfolios, including Labour Minister Monte McNaughton now assuming the immigration file, Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli adding small business, and Treasury Board President Prabmeet Sakaria now overseeing emergency management and procurement including Supply Ontario. Kalleed Rasheed becomes Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, renamed from the Minister of Government and Consumer Services.
Newcomers were added to bolster the executive regional representation. First-time MPPs in cabinet include Neil Lumsden from Hamilton East-Stoney Creek (Tourism, Culture and Sport), Michael Kerzner from York Centre (Solicitor General), Graydon Smith of Parry Sound-Muskoka (Natural Resources and Forestry), George Pirie of Timmins (Mines), Charmaine Williams of Brampton Centre (Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity) and Michael Ford of York South-Weston (Citizenship and Multiculturalism).
Discharged from the cabinet table are MPPs Lisa Macleod, Ross Romano, and Nina Tangri who has indicated her sights are set on the Speakers’ chair. Macleod released a statement sharing her health challenges and her intention to take some time to rest and recuperate over the next few months.
Long-time MPP, conservative party stalwart, deputy premier and Health Minister Christine Elliott did not seek re-election, leaving Ford with a significant role to fill, both in his cabinet and in his party. Doug Ford has chosen Sylvia Jones to be both his new deputy and Minister of Health. She sits as MPP for Dufferin-Caledon and served most recently as Solicitor General and previously as Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Minister Jones worked closely with Ford and Elliot to manage the pandemic, including in the planning and execution of the province’s vaccine rollout.
The first major order of business for the Ford government after the swearing in of the new cabinet will be to recall the legislature to pass the Ontario Budget tabled on the eve of the election. Over the summer, minister’s offices will hire new folks and briefings will be taking place for the start of the new sitting that usually kicks off in the fall.
The following is a complete line up of the new cabinet and the folks that will be implementing much of the new agenda for the province of Ontario.
• Doug Ford, Premier
• Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health
• Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance
• Paul Calandra, Minister of Long-Term Care
• Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors
• Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing
• Doug Downey, Attorney General
• Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities
• Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development
• Michael Ford, Minister of Multiculturalism
• Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Citizenship
• Parm Gill, Minister of Red Tape Reduction
• Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General
• Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education
• Neil Lumsden, Minister of Tourism
• Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour
• Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation
• Davis Puccini, Minister of Environment
• George Pirie, Minister of Mines
• Kaleed Rasheed, Minister of Public and Business Services
• Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development
• Prabmeet Sakaria, President of Treasury Board
• Graydon Smith, Minister of Natural Resources & Forestry
• Todd Smith, Minister of Energy
• Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure
• Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture
• Stan Cho, Associate Minister of Transportation
• Michael Parsa, Associate Minister of Housing
• Michael Tibollo, Associate Minister of Mental Health
• Charmaine Williams, associate Minister of Women’s Social & Economic Opportunity
This is Doug Ford’s extended family for now!
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