Ontario Premier Ford shakes up his Cabinet

With the benefit of the Ontario Legislature in recess, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced major changes to his cabinet today, shuffling several key ministers from their portfolios, and introducing newly appointed associate ministers to support some of the larger portfolios including health, transportation, and energy.

A much larger shuffle than was initially expected, these changes rewarded strong performers in Cabinet and caucus and give the new arrivals and those reassigned the summer to get fully briefed and up to speed before facing the opposition this fall.

A key takeaway was Premier Ford’s decision on the Health file to split the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care into two separate standalone ministries. With the addition of an Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and a stand-alone Minister of Long-Term Care, the government has tripled down on a file that is always under the microscope in Ontario. Stakeholders will now have several points of entry into the health and long-term care sector although the majority of responsibility remains with Minister Christine Elliott.

Equally noteworthy was the appointment of a new Minister of Finance, Rod Phillips, signaling a fresh start for the Ford Government’s financial priorities. A key question for stakeholders will be whether this signals a change in priorities and an opportunity for reconsideration on elements of the recent Ontario Budget of now-Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and International Trade Vic Fedeli, or whether Phillips will stay the course of the financial plan laid out by his predecessor.

Cabinet newcomer Prabmeet Sarkaria will also be of great interest to those businesses looking to engage on the Ford Government’s red tape reduction plans as he takes on the related role of Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. Jeff Yurek will assume Mr. Phillips previous post as the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, although his priorities are likely to remain similar to those of his predecessor.

Related to the cannabis sector, backbencher and litigator Doug Downey will be taking over as the Attorney General and therefore responsible for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, while the aforementioned Phillips as Minister of Finance will take over Fedeli’s responsibilities for the Ontario Cannabis Store. Moving from the Attorney-General’s office, Caroline Mulroney will now take on the Transport file, which will have the interest of industry and labour unions alike.

Former Education Minister Lisa Thompson will now take on the role of Minister of Government and Consumer Services, a key cog in government procurement along with Treasury Board Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, who remains in his role.

Premier Ford’s cabinet is listed below (roles and portfolios affected in bold):

• Premier and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs: Doug Ford
• Deputy Premier and Minister of Health: Christine Elliott
• Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions: Michael Tibollo
• Minister of Long-Term Care: Merrilee Fullerton
• Minister of Finance: Rod Phillips
• Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and Chair of Cabinet: Vic Fedeli
• Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction: Prabmeet Sarkaria
• Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: Steve Clark
• Solicitor General: Sylvia Jones
• Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks: Jeff Yurek
• Minister of Children, Community and Social Services: Todd Smith
• Associate Minister of Children and Women's Issues: Jill Dunlop
• Minister of Labour: Monte McNaughton
• Attorney General: Doug Downey
• Minister of Transportation and Minister of Francophone Affairs: Caroline Mulroney
• Associate Minister of Transportation (GTA) : Kinga Surma
• Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities: Ross Romano
• Minister of Education: Stephen Lecce
• President of the Treasury Board: Peter Bethlenfalvy
• Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry: John Yakabuski
• Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs: Greg Rickford
• Associate Minister of Energy: Bill Walker
• Minister for Seniors and Accessibility: Raymond Cho
• Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: Ernie Hardeman
• Minister of Infrastructure: Laurie Scott
• Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport: Lisa MacLeod
• Minister of Government and Consumer Services: Lisa Thompson
• Government House Leader: Paul Calandra

While the ministerial appointments are effective immediately, revised mandate letters, the appointment of Parliamentary Assistants and movement among ministers’ staff will likely occur over the next few days.

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