Premier Kathleen Wynne’s shuffle of the newly expanded 30-seat cabinet impacted a number of local members of Parliament.
Liz Sandals, Guelph’s representative in the Liberal government, was moved from the education portfolio and named president of the Treasury Board. Mitzie Hunter, who has been overseeing the new pension plan, has been named to replace Sandals as Minister of Education.
Cambridge MPP Kathryn McGarry has been named the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
London North Centre’s Deb Matthews remains deputy premier and will be taking on the newly rebranded Advanced Education and Skills Development Ministry, previously the post-secondary file.
Former NDP MP Glenn Thibeault who won a seat for the Liberals in a 2015 byelection was rewarded by win and named Ontario’s new Energy Minister.
Finance Minister Charles Sousa, Health Minister Eric Hoskins and Environment Minister Glen Murray keep their portfolios.
Wynne says 40 per cent of the new cabinet is women, and insists the new ministries created are needed to implement key parts of the Liberal agenda.
"The plan is in place, and now, at the mid-point of our mandate, our focus is on implementing our plan so that we can continue to deliver on our top priority -- creating jobs and growth," Wynne said.
The cabinet shakeup comes with just two years to the next election in June 2018.
With files from The Canadian Press
