Ontario Premier Doug Ford is shaking up his education and energy portfolios in a cabinet shuffle as the legislature heads into its summer break.
Stephen Lecce moves from education, where he has served as minister since 2019, to energy, swapping portfolios with Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith, who has been the minister of energy for the past three years.
Smith tells Quinte News he is honoured to take over the education portfolio.
“Ensuring the kids get the education that they need, whether it’s, you know, economic literacy, which was a key part of what Minister Lecce had introduced, but just ensuring that they have the skills that they need to be successful as they become adults, and fill jobs in our communities.”
Smith says he’s extremely proud of the work his team has done on the energy file as electricity demand grows.
“All of these new investments are being made and homes are being built, you know, announcing big new nuclear projects for the first time in thirty years at Bruce and the cutting edge small modular reactor technology at Darlington. and then all the successful procurements, competitive procurements, that we’ve run through the independent electricity system operator to ensure we have the clean electricity system that we need the power Ontario’s future.”
Several new people have been promoted to cabinet, with new associate minister positions being created and some other ministries such as Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs being split in two.
It brings the cabinet to 36 people.
One of the new faces in cabinet is Mike Harris, the son of the former premier, and he takes over the Red Tape Reduction portfolio.
The ministers of health, finance, municipal affairs and housing, and colleges and universities are among those who are staying put.
Northumberland Peterborough South MPP David Piccini remains Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
(The Canadian Press)
