The Ford ministry is the Cabinet, chaired by Premier Doug Ford, that began governing Ontario shortly before the opening of the 42nd Parliament. The original members were sworn in during a ceremony held at Queen's Park on June 29, 2018.[1][2]

Ford ministry
2018–present
Date formedJune 29, 2018
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Charles III
Lieutenant Governor
PremierDoug Ford
Premier's historyPremiership of Doug Ford
Deputy Premier
No. of ministers36
Member party
  •   Progressive Conservative
Status in legislature
  • Majority (2018–2022)
    76 / 124 (61%)
  • Majority (2022–present)
    83 / 124 (67%)
Opposition cabinetHorwath Shadow Cabinet (2018-2022)
Tabuns Shadow Cabinet (2022-2023)
Stiles Shadow Cabinet (since 2023)
Opposition party
Opposition leader
History
Elections2018, 2022
Legislature terms
PredecessorWynne ministry

Ford has carried out four major Cabinet reshuffles: once in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

History

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2018

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The cabinet was sworn in by Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell on June 29. The cabinet featured Ford as Premier and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs with former Progressive Conservative leadership candidates Christine Elliott as Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, and Caroline Mulroney as Attorney General. Former interim leaders of the Progressive Conservatives Vic Fedeli and Jim Wilson were assigned to be Minister of Finance and Minister of Economic Development, respectively. This initial cabinet also featured Lisa MacLeod as both Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister of Children and Youth Services, Lisa Thompson as Minister of Education, Rod Phillips as Minister of the Environment, and John Yakabuski as Minister of Transportation.[3]

The first change to the cabinet came on November 2, 2018, when Jim Wilson resigned to sit as an independent and Todd Smith assumed his role as Minister of Economic Development.[4]

2019 - 2020

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The first major cabinet shuffle came on June 20, 2019, as the premier expanded the cabinet to 28 members[5] Doug Downey, Paul Calandra, Stephen Lecce and Ross Romano were promoted to cabinet to be Attorney General, Government House Leader, Minister of Education, and Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, respectively. Jill Dunlop, Kinga Surma, and Prabmeet Sarkaria were promoted to be Associate Ministers. Rod Phillips became Minister of Finance, Jeff Yurek the Minister of the Environment, Todd Smith the Minister of Children and Youth Services, Caroline Mulroney the Minister of Transportation, Vic Fedeli the Minister of Economic Development, Lisa Thompson the Minister of Government and Consumer Services, Lisa MacLeod the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Laurie Scott the Minister of Infrastructure, and Monte McNaughton the Minister of Labour. Bill Walker and Michael Tibollo were demoted from ministerial positions to be Associate Ministers, and Christine Elliott's portfolio split with Merrilee Fullerton taking over the newly created Ministry of Long-Term Care.

2021

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In February 2021, Peter Bethlenfalvy replaced Rod Phillips as Minister of Finance following criticism of his international vacations during the COVID-19 pandemic,[6] though he returned to cabinet in June as the Minister of Long-Term Care. That June shuffle removed 5 members (Jeff Yurek, John Yakabuski, Laurie Scott, Bill Walker, and Ernie Hardeman) and introduced 6 new members to cabinet, including David Piccini as Minister of the Environment, Parm Gill as Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, Khaleed Rasheed as Associate Minister of Digital Government, Stan Cho as Associate Minister of Transportation, Nina Tangri as Associate Minister for Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, and Jane McKenna as the Associate Minister of Children and Women's Issues. Kinga Surma and Jill Dunlop were promoted from their associate minister roles to be Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Colleges and Universities, respectively, with Prabmeet Sakaria being promoted from associate minister to President of the Treasury Board.[7]

2022

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This cabinet shuffle was held following the 2022 Ontario general election.[8]

2023

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Earlier in the year, a minor shuffle occurred following the resignation of Merrilee Fullerton, with Michael Parsa replacing her.[9] A major cabinet shuffle was held following the fallout due to the Greenbelt scandal.[10] Housing minister Steve Clark resigned and Stan Cho was added to cabinet. Weeks later, another cabinet shuffle took place following the resignations of Monte McNaughton and Kaleed Rasheed.[11] Andrea Khanjin and Todd McCarthy were added to cabinet.

2024

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On June 6th, 2024 on the last day of sitting before the summer break Doug Ford conducted a major cabinet shuffle, surprising his caucus, the media, and the public. Ford expanded the size of cabinet to 36 members, changing the portfolios of many ministers and adding many Parliamentary Assistants to the cabinet without removing a current minister from cabinet. The new additions to the team included Sam Oosterhoff, Stephen Crawford, Nolan Quinn, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Mike Harris Jr. (Son of Former PC Premier Mike Harris Sr.), and Trevor Jones. The cabinet shuffle also included the addition of Former Minister of Housing Steve Clark as Government House leader.[12] (See List below of all Cabinet Members)

List of ministers

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Minister[12] Portfolio Since
Doug Ford Premier of Ontario 2018
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Peter Bethlenfalvy Minister of Finance 2020
Stan Cho Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming 2024
Raymond Cho Minister of Seniors and Accessibility 2018
Paul Calandra Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 2023[13]
Stephen Crawford Associate Minister of Mines 2024
Doug Downey Attorney General 2019
Nolan Quinn Minister of Colleges and Universities 2024
Vic Fedeli Chair of Cabinet 2018
Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade 2019
Michael Ford Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism 2022
Mike Harris Minister of Red Tape Reduction 2024
Sylvia Jones Deputy Premier 2022
Minister of Health
Trevor Jones Associate Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response 2024
Michael Kerzner Solicitor General of Ontario 2022
Natalia Kusendova-Bashta Minister of Long-Term Care 2024
Stephen Lecce Minister of Energy and Electrification 2024
Neil Lumsden Minister of Sport 2024
David Piccini Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development 2023[14]
Kevin Holland Associate Minister of Forests 2024
Sam Oosterhoff Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries 2024
Caroline Mulroney Minister of Francophone Affairs 2018
Prabmeet Sarkaria Minister of Transportation 2023[15]
Michael Parsa Minister of Children, Community and Social Services 2023
Andrea Khanjin Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks 2023[14]
George Pirie Minister of Mines 2022
Todd McCarthy Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement 2024
Rob Flack Minister of Farming, Agriculture, and Agribusiness 2024
Greg Rickford Minister of Northern Development 2021
Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation 2024
Caroline Mulroney President of the Treasury Board 2023[15]
Graydon Smith Minister of Natural Resources 2024
Jill Dunlop Minister of Education 2024
Kinga Surma Minister of Infrastructure 2021
Nina Tangri Associate Minister of Small Business 2023
Lisa Thompson Minister of Rural Affairs 2024
Michael Tibollo Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions 2019
Charmaine Williams Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity 2022
Vijay Thanigasalam Associate Minister of Housing 2024

Succession

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Ministries of Ontario
Preceded by Ford ministry
2018–present
Incumbent

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "SWEARING-IN OF THE 26TH PREMIER AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF ONTARIO". lgontario.ca. June 29, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  2. ^ "'A new day will dawn in Ontario:' Doug Ford sworn in as premier". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Rieti, Joihn (June 29, 2018). "Ontario PC cabinet puts big-name politicians in top roles". CBC News. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  4. ^ Westoll, Nick (November 2, 2018). "Jim Wilson, Ontario's economic development minister, resigns to seek treatment for 'addiction issues'". Global News. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  5. ^ Powers, Lucas (June 20, 2019). "Fedeli, MacLeod, Thompson all demoted in major Ontario cabinet shuffle by Ford". CBC News. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  6. ^ "Ontario's finance minister resigns after returning from Caribbean vacation". CBC News. December 31, 2020.
  7. ^ D'Mello, Colin (June 18, 2021). "Doug Ford shuffles cabinet, brings back minister who violated travel guidance". CTV News.
  8. ^ "Premier Ford Unveils New Cabinet to Build Ontario". news.ontario.ca. June 24, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  9. ^ Rushowy, Kristin (March 24, 2023). "Merrilee Fullerton quits Doug Ford's cabinet, Michael Parsa to replace her". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  10. ^ "Premier Doug Ford Renews Team that will Deliver on Promise to Build Ontario". news.ontario.ca. September 4, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  11. ^ "Ford announces cabinet shuffle hours after third minister resigns in a month | CP24.com". CP24. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Premier Ford Renews Team that is Rebuilding Ontario's Economy". news.ontario.ca. June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  13. ^ "Ontario Premier Doug Ford shuffles cabinet in wake of housing minister's resignation". CP24. September 4, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Doug Ford shuffles cabinet again as latest minister resigns". toronto.citynews.ca. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Smith, John G. (September 5, 2023). "Sarkaria named Ontario transportation minister". Truck News. Retrieved November 1, 2023.