Premier Doug Ford unveiled a mostly unchanged cabinet Wednesday, keeping most of his high-profile ministers in their portfolios following an election he won on the promise of guiding the province through U.S. tariff threats with a steady hand.
“My friends, it is not an exaggeration to say, Ontario is facing one of the most pressing and significant challenges in the history of our province,” Ford said after the cabinet was sworn in by Lt.-Gov. Edith Dumont in a ceremony at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).
He promised his government “will hit the ground running” to unlock Ontario’s potential and vowed to “train workers, attract jobs, tear down internal trade barriers and cut red tape so we can develop our natural resources, including critical minerals in the Ring of Fire.”
Many of the appointments retain the status quo from before the election.
Peter Bethlenfalvy is remaining on as minister of finance, while Sylvia Jones will remain on as health minister and deputy premier. Stephen Lecce will keep his portfolio in energy, while taking on mining as well.
There are some changes, however. Paul Calandra will move from municipal affairs and housing to become education minister, while Jill Dunlop will move from education to emergency preparedness and response.
Rob Flack is the new minister of municipal affairs and housing; Mike Harris becomes minister of natural resources; and Todd McCarthy becomes minister of the environment, conservation and parks.
Andrea Khanjin, who was previously environment minister, is moving to red tape reduction. Graham McGregor will take over citizenship and multiculturalism. That role was previously occupied by Michael Ford, who did not run for re-election.
[Scroll down to see the full list at the bottom]
Ford’s new cabinet will not include a special portfolio to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
Ford confirmed the news to CP24 ahead of the unveiling of his new cabinet.
The premier also confirmed to CP24 that his new cabinet is not growing or shrinking, but holding steady at 37 members.
Ford won a third majority in a snap winter election called on the tariff threat. He has been hands-on in dealing with the threat, making numerous appearances on U.S. television networks and travelling to Washington, D.C. last week as part of a Canadian delegation that met with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Speaking with reporters afterward, several ministers said the government will be focused on shoring up Ontario’s economy over the next four years.
“I think the message of stability of certainty in this environment, that’s one of the things that we bring to the table,” Bethlenfalvy said, adding that he’s willing to spend billions of dollars promised in the election to boost thew economy if need be “because we campaigned on a commitment to protect Ontarians.”
Lecce, meanwhile, said he will be looking to work with other governments, particularly whoever wins the expected federal election in the spring, to develop Ontario’s mining resources in the Ring of Fire.
“President Trump has upended the world order and we’re going to need every government, every regulator, every agency to move with absolute speed to get shovels in the ground.”
Freeland in attendance after meeting with Ford on trade
While he may not be creating a ministerial portfolio around tariffs, Wednesday’s ceremony suggested responding to the threat will remain top-of-mind.
Federal Minister of Transport and Internal Trade Chrystia Freeland attended the swearing-in ceremony Wednesday at Ford’s invitation.
Speaking with CP24 ahead of the ceremony, Freeland said she felt it was important to be at the swearing-in to show that “Canada is united, strong and smart.”
She said she “had a great meeting” with Premier Ford at his house Tuesday to “chat about things we can do together to make Canada stronger.”
Freeland and Ford developed a friendship while working together during the pandemic, each calling the other their “therapist.”
She said she was “touched” to be invited, but that it also makes sense given the task at hand.
“I never thought I would say this, but interprovincial trade has become sexy,” Freeland laughed. “Our best answer to president trump is to do everything in our power to make Canada stronger. That starts with interprovincial trade barriers.”
-With files from CP24’s Beatrice Vaisman
Full cabinet list:
Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
Doug Downey, Attorney General
Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security
Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Paul Calandra, Minister of Education
Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response
Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines
Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance
Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and the Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships
Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure
David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care
Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources
George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth
Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement
Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Red Tape Reduction
Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs
Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility
Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General
Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport
Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming
Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation
Caroline Mulroney, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Francophone Affairs
Michael Tibollo, Associate Attorney General, as part of the Ministry of the Attorney General
Zee Hamid, Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform, as part of the Ministry of the Solicitor General
Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries, as part of the Ministry of Energy and Mines
Kevin Holland, Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products, as part of the Ministry of Natural Resources
Graydon Smith, Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as part of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Vijay Thanigasalam, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, as part of the Ministry of Health
Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business, as part of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, as part of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
