Macleans-Wynne, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne sits down with Paul Wells of Macleans at Queens Park in Toronto, ON. (Photograph by Cole Garside)
TORONTO — Former New Democrat MP Glenn Thibeault is Ontario’s new energy minister following a cabinet shuffle by Premier Kathleen Wynne, who also created several new ministries.
Thibeault was lured from the NDP by Wynne to run as a provincial Liberal in a 2015 byelection in Sudbury, and was rewarded Monday with a promotion to cabinet.
Six other new faces were promoted to cabinet, including Eleanor McMahon in Tourism, Culture and Sport; Kathryn McGarry in Natural Resources and Forestry; Marie-France Lalonde in Consumer Services; and Indira Naidoo-Harris as associate minister of finance.
Mitzie Hunter will become Ontario’s new Minister of Education, replacing Liz Sandals, who becomes president of the Treasury Board.
Michael Chan moves from Citizenship and Immigration to the new Ministry of International Trade, while Yasir Naqvi will become attorney general.
Wynne says 40 per cent of the cabinet is women, and defends expanding the size of her executive council, insisting the new ministries are needed to implement key parts of the Liberal agenda.
The cabinet shakeup comes with just two years to the next election in June 2018.
Health Minister Eric Hoskins, Finance Minister Charles Sousa and Environment Minister Glen Murray keep their portfolios, while Bob Chiarelli moves from Energy to Infrastructure, which becomes a stand alone ministry.
Deputy Premier Deb Matthews will be in charge of the new Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development and also becomes Ontario’s first ever minister responsible for digital government.
Four cabinet veterans resigned last week to make way for the new blood, including Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur, Seniors Minister Mario Sergio, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ted McMeekin and Cabinet chair Jim Bradley.
Here is a complete list:
Premier of Ontario, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs: Kathleen Wynne Premier and President of the Council
Deputy Premier, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, Digital Government: Deborah Matthews
President of the Treasury Board: Elizabeth Jean Sandals
Minister of Finance: Charles Sousa
Associate Minister of Finance (Ontario Retirement Pension Plan): Indira Naidoo-Harris
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care: Eric William Hoskins
Minister of Education: Mitzie Jacquelin Hunter
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change: Glen Ronald Murray
Minister of Energy: Glenn Edward Thibeault
Minister of Economic Development and Growth: Brad Duguid
Minister of Transportation: Steven Alfonso Del Duca
Minister of Infrastructure: Bob Chiarelli
Minister of Northern Development and Mines: Michael John Gravelle
Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: David Zimmer
Minister Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs : Jeff Leal
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services: David Michael Orazietti:
Minister of Community and Social Services: Helena Jaczek
Minister of International Trade: Michael Kwok Chi Chan
Minister of Research, Innovation and Science: Reza Moridi
Attorney General, Government House Leader: Yasir Naqvi
Minister of Children and Youth Services, Anti-Racism: Michael Joseph Coteau
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care: Eric William Hoskins
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change: Glen Ronald Murray
Minister of Infrastructure: Bob Chiarelli
Minister of Labour: Kevin Daniel Flynn
Minister of Children and Youth Services: Michael Joseph Coteau
Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues, Accessibility: Tracy MacCharles
Minister of Municipal Affairs: William Joseph Mauro
Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs: Dipika Damerla
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration: Laura Albanese
Minister of Housing, Poverty Reduction Strategy: Christopher Stephen Ballard
Minister of Government and Consumer Services, Francophone Affairs: Marie-France Lalonde
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry: Kathryn McGarry
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport: Mary Eleanor McMahon
