Reference to the CFA’s Advocacy Update from June 24, 2022

Today in Toronto, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced his new Cabinet after his recent election win. The Cabinet swearing-in left no doubt that the Premier felt that there was still unfinished business for

most of his cabinet as most Ministers remained in same role they had. There were a few members dropped from Cabinet and some new faces.

Who’s In

Former Brampton City Councillor Charmaine Williams takes the open Ministry at Women’s Issues. The PC sweep of the City on June 2nd was almost certainly going to lead to more Cabinet representation in this term.

Michael Ford, Doug Ford’s nephew is the new Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism.

Hamilton also finds itself represented at the PC Cabinet table for the first time as CFL Hall of Famer, Neil Lumsden, takes on the role of Ontario’s Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister.

The PC gains in Northern Ontario led to two new Northern Cabinet Ministers with former Timmins Mayor George Pirie taking on the role of Ontario’s new Minister of Mining – with a priority on the Ring of Fire, separating that job from the Northern Development role for the first time in decades. Former AMO President Graydon Smith takes on the role of Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Moving Sylvia Jones to Health meant that someone had to take on her previous role as the province’s Solicitor General. York Centre’s new MPP, Michael Kerczner, is taking on the role of Solicitor General

Second term PC MPP Michael Parsa was added to the Cabinet roster as a new Associate Minister at Municipal Affairs and Housing, with a specific focus on housing.

Who’s Out

The biggest story about who’s on the outs of this cabinet is long-time PC MPP Lisa McLeod. The fifth term Ottawa MPP and former Community Services and Tourism Minister finds herself on the outside looking in after a campaign controversy about her riding association expenses.

Despite more representation from Northern Ontario, third term Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano is out of Cabinet after rocky tenures at Colleges and Universities, and Government and Consumer Services.

The night before Cabinet was announced, Mississauga cabinet Minister Nina Tangri announced she would be running to become Speaker of the Legislature and would not be serving in Cabinet.

Who’s Moved

Prominent Front bench Minister Greg Rickford has seen a couple of his files moved, losing Mining and Natural Resources.

Also of note is the move of Supply Ontario from its former home at Government and Consumer Services, to the Treasury Board office where Prabmeet Sarkaria is still the Minister.

Key Ministers for the CFA

Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance, Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, with an additional mandate for small business and Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development all remain in their previous portfolios.

Parm Gill, is the new Minister of Red Tape Reduction. He previously served as Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism.

Former Digital Affairs Minister Kaleed Rasheed is moving to a newly renamed Public and Business Services Delivery Ministry, formerly the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. This is the Ministry responsible for the Arthur Wishart Act.

For more analysis on the new Ontario Cabinet click here.

DONATE TO THE CFA’S ADVOCACY EFFORTS!