The new Progressive Conservative cabinet has 21 members, including Mr. Ford. Here is the full list. Doug Ford, Premier and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Christine Elliott, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and Deputy Premier Story continues below advertisement Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board. Raymond Cho, Minister of Seniors and Accessibility Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Vic Fedeli, Minister of Finance and Chair of Cabinet Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Sylvia Jones, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Story continues below advertisement Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues Monte McNaughton, Minister of Infrastructure Caroline Mulroney, Attorney-General and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs Rod Phillips, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs Laurie Scott, Minister of Labour Story continues below advertisement Todd Smith, Minister of Government and Consumer Services, and Government House Leader Lisa Thompson, Minister of Education Michael Tibollo, Minister of Community, Safety and Correctional Services Jim Wilson, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade John Yakabuski, Minister of Transportation Jeff Yurek, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry<doc-sep>Who Premier Doug Ford put in key portfolios, as well as which ministries he chose to eliminate or fold into others, signals the new government's priorities, say supporters and critics alike. Janet Ecker is a former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister who served from 1995 to 2003, during which time she took on roles as minister of finance and minister of education. "Certainly in the early days and on the critical issues — for example the hydro file — you're going to see the premier's office is going to be very hands on," say Ecker. She applauds the choice of Caroline Mulroney as attorney general and Christine Elliott as minister of health and long-term care — important, high-profile roles for former Ford leadership rivals. Just 1 visible minority "It was a nice touch to have [Elliot] as deputy premier, because her style and temperament looks like it's very different from the premier's, so that will be a good balance and good for the government," says Ecker. Christine Elliott, former contender for the Ontario PC Leadership, was chosen as minister of health and long-term care and deputy premier. (Canadian Press) "The other thing about that legislature, you've got so many newbies, new people — new women, new people from multicultural backgrounds. So there's the opportunity to change the culture of that house." Ontario's new Progressive Conservative government will have a cabinet of 21 — that's seven fewer ministers than the previous Liberal government under Kathleen Wynne. Of those ministers, 14 are men and seven are women. Only one, however, is a visible minority — Raymond Cho, who was sworn in as the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. NDP MPP-elect Sara Singh was one of those criticizing the lack of diversity in Premier Ford's inner circle. 'Not seeing themselves reflected' "For me, as a young woman of colour, and I'm sure for many other across this province, they are not seeing themselves reflected in the decisions that were made," says Singh. She also criticized Ford for collapsing some ministries. For example, Child and Youth Services, Community and Social Services and Women's Issues were all merged into one. Sara Singh, NDP MPP-elect, discusses the concerns the NDP has about which ministries the Ontario Premier has downgraded during a press conference at Queen's Park in Toronto on Friday. (Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press) Singh says that sends a big signal about which ministries would be favoured and which would have to deal with cuts. "How does it show that Mr. Ford is prioritizing these issues?" asked Singh, noting that Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs all fall under one minister. "A part-time minister in indigenous relations and reconciliation is not good enough." Wheels in motion Premier Ford also announced the names of parliamentary assistants, each of whom will hold special responsibilities supporting his cabinet ministers. Laure Paquette, associate professor of political science at Lakehead University, says that the premier would appoint the ministers' chiefs of staff and as well as senior bureaucrats and deputy ministers is a clear signal. "Those are indications that there's going to be a strong central figure," she says, adding the major portfolio all predictably went to Ford's challengers for party leadership. "The three biggies — attorney general, finance and health — those are all Red Tories, those are all progressives," says Paquette. MPPs will be called back on July 11 to elect a speaker, but Ford has already set the wheels in motion on several of his campaign promises. Scrapping the cap-and-trade system is first on his agenda, followed by a line-by-line audit of government spending in order to eliminate $6 billion in waste without cutting jobs. The throne speech is scheduled for July 12.<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email TORONTO – A grinning Doug Ford declared a new era officially underway in Ontario on Friday as he assumed the reins of the province and unveiled the leaner cabinet tasked with executing his widely touted agenda of fiscal responsibility. Ford, who cruised to victory earlier this month in an election that reduced the governing Liberals to a party without official status, made good on a promise to trim the size of the provincial cabinet. Ford has named 20 ministers to cabinet posts, reserving some plum positions for the two women who challenged him for leadership of the party earlier this year. Under former premier Kathleen Wynne, cabinet had as many as 30 members. At an outdoor ceremony before cheering supporters, Ford outlined a litany of global challenges and perceived past political wrongs before promising change had arrived. Story continues below advertisement READ MORE: Doug Ford to be sworn in as premier Friday, but work on key promises already underway “Together we will blaze a new trail,” he said. “Together we will be the envy of the world because as a people, as a province, our potential is limitless.” Ford, long criticized for divisive partisan rhetoric, pledged to govern for all Ontario residents and to work with members of the other three parties in the legislature. The crowd, gathered in scorching conditions to witness Ford’s speech, greeted him enthusiastically as he proclaimed himself a premier for the people. Cindy Nepo, a supporter from Brampton, Ont., felt his claim rang true. “I support him because I feel in my heart he’s sincere,” she said. “All the promises or goals he had set for Ontario. He is for the people.” WATCH: Doug Ford delivers his first address as the Premier of Ontario in front of a crowd of hundreds at Queens Park on Friday 18:01 ‘Truly humbled by the trust you have put in me’: Doug Ford addresses Ontario as premier ‘Truly humbled by the trust you have put in me’: Doug Ford addresses Ontario as premier – Jun 29, 2018 Others said they came to show that not everyone supports Ford despite his decisive victory. Taryn Eadie, 26, held up a bright pink sign that read “Not my premier” as she stood at the front of the crowd. Story continues below advertisement “A lot of people obviously disagree with my sign but then there are a lot of people who are here and appreciative that I did come,” she said. “So I think not everyone is here supporting Doug Ford.” Ford’s majority win closed the door on 15 years of Liberal governance, the manifestation of a public desire for change that the polls had long predicted. Liberal fatigue combined with Wynne’s plunging popularity contributed to the party’s dramatic fall from a majority to a handful of seats and helped propel the New Democrats, with whom they shared some policy priorities, to the role of official Opposition. READ MORE: Incoming Ontario premier nixes cap and trade, leaves millions of dollars in limbo Both the Liberals and the NDP congratulated Ford and his cabinet on the transition to power, but raised concerns about changes to government ministries. Ford’s cabinet selections, revealed during Friday’s ceremony, suggest the new premier is trying to differentiate himself from the previous regime by bringing in fresh faces, including several from the private sector, and highlighting particular portfolios that are central to his agenda, said Andrea Lawlor, a political science professor at Western University’s King’s University College. At the same time, she said, the new premier is rewarding key members of the old guard to show stability and unity within Tory ranks and offset his own lack of legislative experience. Story continues below advertisement “I think the makeup of the cabinet that we see is one that is very much meant to bring a little bit of continuity between previous PCs and contemporary PCs but also one that reflects individuals who are on board with the Ford agenda and willing to carry out his vision for the province of Ontario,” she said. WATCH: Doug Ford announces memorial to honour Canadians who served in Afghanistan 0:45 Doug Ford announces memorial to honour Canadians who served in Afghanistan Doug Ford announces memorial to honour Canadians who served in Afghanistan – Jun 27, 2018 His chosen team of seven women and 14 men – one of them a member of a visible minority – includes several who came from the private sector, which Lawlor said suggests Ford is looking for “people who come from the business world, people who perhaps understand the bottom line.” In naming Christine Elliott, a veteran provincial legislator who returned to politics this year to contend for the party leadership, as deputy premier and minister of health and long-term care, Ford aimed to appeal to those with a more centrist approach, she said. Story continues below advertisement “(Elliott) is measured, she is professional, she has a wealth of experience, an abundance of competence in the area of governance in general. And not only does she speak, I think, a little bit more to some of the elements of the PC party that were a little bit cautious around Ford…she provides this nice counterpoint to Ford’s style.” Elliott, the province’s former patient ombudsman, said her focus would be to deliver on the party’s commitments to create long-term care and home care spaces, to create a comprehensive mental health system and work with physicians. She also repeated Ford’s call for collaboration, saying legislators “need to work across party lines.” WATCH: Doug Ford gives hazy details for Ontario PC Party plan on marijuana 1:22 Doug Ford gives hazy details for Ontario PC Party plan on marijuana Doug Ford gives hazy details for Ontario PC Party plan on marijuana – Jun 22, 2018 Toronto lawyer Caroline Mulroney, who came third in the leadership contest triggered by the abrupt resignation of Patrick Brown, has been tapped as Ontario’s new attorney general and minister responsible for Francophone affairs. Story continues below advertisement<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email TORONTO – Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government had barely been in power for an hour Friday before it was under attack about the perceived lack of diversity in its cabinet. Shortly before officially taking the reigns of the province, Doug Ford announced the 20 ministers tasked with helping him shepherd the new government’s agenda of fiscal restraint. But while the cabinet drew praise for enlisting members with considerable public and private sector experience, critics also noted the fact that only seven women and one visible minority currently have a seat on the front benches. Two out of three opposition parties said the makeup of the cabinet does not reflect the diversity of either the Tory caucus or the province as a whole. Story continues below advertisement Political observers also noted the lack of diversity, but said the current cabinet composition makes an effort to balance different sets of interests including regional representation and willingness to commit to the promised agenda. The Progressive Conservative party did not respond to a request for comment. Critiques of the new Tory cabinet, which features plum portfolios for Ford’s past political rivals as well as veterans of provincial and federal politics, began pouring in almost immediately after Ford delivered a speech to cheering supporters gathered outside of the legislature. Newly elected New Democrat Sarah Singh, whose party now forms the official Opposition in the legislature, said the image of the predominantly male, white cabinet sends a disheartening message for those hoping to feel supported by the Ford administration. “For me as a young woman of colour, and I’m sure for many others across this province, they’re not seeing themselves reflected in the decisions that were made today,” Singh said after extending her congratulations to the newly minted ministers. Singh also criticized Ford’s decision to assign the Indigenous affairs portfolio to a minister who’s already overseeing the major files of energy and northern affairs. Story continues below advertisement That move, Singh said, suggests reconciliation with Indigenous residents will be a lower priority than it has been under past regimes. Similar concerns emerged from the camp of the Green party, whose leader Mike Schreiner made history in the June 7 election by being the first person elected to the house under his party’s banner. Schreiner issued a statement lauding the depth of talent in the cabinet ranks, but lamenting that diversity seemed only confined to the skill sets on display. He noted that having only one member of a visible minority, Seniors and Accessibility Minister Raymond Cho, does not adequately represent four million Ontarians who identify as belonging to a minority group. Schreiner also took aim at the comparative lack of women in the upper echelon of the new government, though Ford’s two primary leadership rivals – Christine Elliott and Caroline Mulroney – were assigned the prestigious titles of health minister and attorney general respectively. Story continues below advertisement “All governments should strive for gender parity, so it is unfortunate that just seven of the 21 ministers named today are women,” he said. “This is made more troubling by the fact that you have reduced the Ministry of the Status of Women to a non-portfolio responsibility and unnecessarily changed the name to ‘women’s issues.”‘ Social media teemed with criticisms of the new cabinet, with hashtags such as #OnGovtSoWhite decrying the lack of racial diversity gaining the most prominence. Political observers said Ford’s choices for high office send a message about where his governing priorities lie. Andrea Lawlor, a political science professor at Western University’s King’s University College, said the relatively homogeneous cabinet was formed from the ranks of a caucus rife with candidates from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The group does feature members from all across the province, however, and Lawlor said Ford’s focus on veteran legislators may be an attempt to suggest that a new government is not necessarily the same as an inexperienced one. “I don’t think it’s an oversight, I think it’s a notable absence,” she said. “I think it suggests that, in an attempt to keep his cabinet as small or efficient as possible, he was … going for the people who he knows will present his agenda and who he knows will have the experience to perhaps balance the fact that he is not only a new premier but a new (member of the provincial legislature) MPP.” Story continues below advertisement Rob Leone, a former Conservative member of the Ontario legislature, agreed that Ford’s choices reflect a desire to showcase a combination of political savvy and people with skills to manage large files and organizations. Leone said he would expect to see a more diverse cabinet further into Ford’s mandate when rookie caucus members have had time to get some experience under their belts. For now, though, Leone said he sees no problem with the current cabinet configuration. “People will assess cabinets on a variety of criteria, but the one that matters most is whether a minister does his or her job well,” he said. “Our parliamentary system is about to put them to the test.”<doc-sep>
Premier Doug Ford is calling his cabinet an "all-star" team, as a number of big name PCs take on prominent roles in the new government. The cabinet will govern with a strong majority after the party captured 76 seats in the June 7 election. During the campaign, Ford highlighted the strength of his candidates, many of whom have served as the Official Opposition in recent years. Among those taking on high-profile posts are: Vic Fedeli will serve as finance minister and chair the cabinet Christine Elliott gets the health portfolio, and will also be Ford's deputy premier Lisa Thompson will handle education Todd Smith will be the government house leader The 21-person cabinet, including Ford, was sworn in at a Queen's Park ceremony on Friday. You can watch the public event following the swearing-in live. Premier Doug Ford, centre, has named a number of long-time politicians, including Christine Elliott, left, and Victor Fedeli, right, to his first cabinet. Elliott will serve as Ford's deputy premier. (The Canadian Press) "We have an all-star team that's ready right now to give the people of Ontario the kind of leadership and direction they deserve," Ford said in a news release, before tweaking a frequent campaign slogan. "Help is here." Caroline Mulroney the new AG Among the other prominent PCs who will serve in cabinet are: Caroline Mulroney, who will become attorney general, Rod Phillips, who will be the environment minister, John Yakabuski, the new transportation minister and Lisa MacLeod, who will be responsible for children, community services and women's issues. Caroline Mulroney, a lawyer who ran against Ford for the PC leadership, will be the province's new attorney general. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press) Two-thirds of Ford's cabinet is male. For comparison, Kathleen Wynne's last Liberal cabinet featured 13 women and 16 men. NDP attacks cabinet moves The NDP, now Ontario's Official Opposition, didn't attack Ford's cabinet ministers, but questioned his decision to hand a number of files to the same minister. The NDP criticized Ford's decision to run a smaller cabinet. (Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press) For example, the energy minister, Greg Rickford, is no longer solely focused on those issues. Instead, he'll be in in charge of energy, northern development and mines, and Indigenous affairs. NDP MPP-elect Sara Singh said that shows Ford isn't planning to tackle the "hydro mess" left behind by Wynne, and won't do enough for Ontario's Indigenous communities. Having a "part-time" minister devoted to Indigenous relations, she told reporters, is just "not good enough." Indigenous leaders and others had called on Ford to maintain a minister solely responsible for issues of concern to First Nations, in keeping with a 2007 recommendation of the Ipperwash inquiry. Singh was also asked about the lack of diversity on Ford's cabinet, responding that many — as of 2016, about three in ten Ontarians identified as a being part of a visible minority — won't be "seeing themselves reflected in the decisions that were made today." Here is the full cabinet: Doug Ford — Premier and minister of intergovernmental affairs Christine Elliott — Minister of health and long-term care and deputy premier Caroline Mulroney — Attorney general and minister responsible for Francophone affairs Monte McNaughton — Minister of infrastructure Lisa MacLeod — Minister of children, community and social services and minister responsible for women's issues Lisa Thompson — Minister of education Todd Smith — Minister of government and consumer services, and government house leader Laurie Scott — Minister of labour Peter Bethlenfalvy — President of the Treasury Board Raymond Cho — Minister for seniors and accessibility Steve Clark — Minister of municipal affairs and housing Victor Fedeli — Minister of finance and Chair of cabinet Merrilee Fullerton — Minister of training, colleges and universities Ernie Hardeman — Minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs Sylvia Jones — Minister of tourism, culture and sport Rod Phillips — Minister of the environment, conservation and parks Greg Rickford — Minister of energy, northern development and mines, and minister of Indigenous affairs Michael Tibollo — Minister of community safety and correctional services Jim Wilson — Minister of economic development, job creation and trade John Yakabuski — Minister of transportation Jeff Yurek — Minister of natural resources and forestry The new MPPs will elect a speaker who will take on the prestigious job of keeping MPPs in line in the legislature on July 11. Ford will deliver the throne speech the following day.