The Top Line: The Ford Government
Earlier today, the Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, officiated at the swearing-in ceremony of the Executive Council of the 44th Parliament of Ontario. The Progressive Conservative Party was re-elected on February 27, 2025 with a majority government of 80 seats in the 124-seat Legislature.
With the ongoing political upheavals at both the federal level and in relation to our U.S. allies, Premier Ford was left with some challenging decisions, but chose to proceed mostly with tried and tested members from the previous parliament. Adding to the challenge was the fact that all Ministers were re-elected and only a few Parliamentary Assistants stepped down or were defeated. In other words, Premier Ford had an experienced caucus to choose from.
Overall, the Cabinet is the same size with 37 people, consisting of 9 women and 28 men – the ratio remains unchanged.
Executive Council for the 44th Parliament
- 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
There is only one new Minister, Zee Hamid, who assumes the role of Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform.
The following Ministers remain in Cabinet but with new responsibilities:
- Paul Calandra (previously Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing) is now the Minister of Education
- Jill Dunlop (previously Minister of Education) is now the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Rob Flack (previously Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness) is now the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
- Todd McCarthy (previously Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement) is now the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
- Trevor Jones (previously Associate Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response) is now the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
- Mike Harris (previously Minister of Red Tape Reduction) is now the Minister of Natural Resources
- George Pirie (previously Minister of Mines) is now the Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth
- Stephen Crawford (previously Associate Minister of Mines) is now the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement)
- Andrea Khanjin (previously Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks) is now the Minister of Red Tape Reduction)
- Michael Tibollo (previously Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions) is now the Associate Attorney General
- Graydon Smith (previously Minister of Natural Resources) is now the Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as part of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
- Graham McGregor (formerly Associate Minister of Auto Theft) is now the Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
- Vijay Thanigasalam (formerly Associate Minister of Housing) is now the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
Those Ministers retaining their portfolios are:
- Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
- Doug Downey, Attorney General
- Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
- Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security
- Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
- Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance
- Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure
- David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
- Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care
- 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
- 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
- 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
Finally, two Ministers maintain much of their previous responsibilities with newly branded Ministries:
- Stephen Lecce (previously Minister of Energy and Electrification), is now the Minister of Energy and Mines.
- Greg Rickford (previously Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister of Northern Development) is now Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and the Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships.
The Mandate
In achieving a third consecutive majority, Premier Ford will now be able to pursue his mandate of dealing with the U.S. tariff issue and moving forward with his economic plan.
“As Ontario faces one of the greatest challenges in our history, workers and families are counting on us to stand up for their jobs and wellbeing,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Our government will double down on our plan to build, train and reskill workers for better jobs and bigger paycheques, tear down internal trade barriers, retool companies for new customers in new markets, attract more investments and cut through red tape to develop our vast natural resources, including critical minerals in the Ring of Fire. No matter what, we will protect Ontario.”
To effectively deliver on its plan to protect Ontario, the government is also making changes to certain ministries’ areas of authority and responsibilities.
In the new Cabinet, the Ring of Fire has new prominence in the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs that will now also include responsibility for the Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships. Northern Development has been renamed as Northern Economic Development and Growth.
The Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will now have responsibility over conservation authorities. The Minister of Energy and Mines and the Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries will now have responsibility over broadband expansion and connectivity.
On the post-secondary education front, the Minister of Colleges and Universities is now also responsible for Research Excellence and Security expressing Ontario’s desire to be more self-reliant in developing innovation within the province.
In addition, given the present uneasy situation with the United States and President Trump’s continual criticism of the security at the Canada-U.S. border, the Premier has also elevated Emergency Preparedness and Response to a full portfolio after previously being a portfolio managed by an Associate Minister.
Premier Ford has indicated that the Legislature will return for the spring session on April 14th with the selection of a new Speaker following the recent retirement of long-time MPP Ted Arnott. Look for a back-bench Conservative MPP to step into this position.
Shortly after the Easter break, Minister Bethlenfalvy is expected to bring in Budget 2025 which will deal with the pending tariffs from the United States and is also expected to focus on strengthening the economy. This will likely include cutting spending, something that has risen dramatically in recent years. The Budget will also focus on the core government activities of health care expansion, labour opportunities including the skilled trades and continued housing and infrastructure expansion.
A Quick Look at Ministers of Note
Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario: Having come back with a third consecutive majority, Premier Ford will continue to have full authority and control of the Legislature. He will utilize the mandate to lead all Premier’s as the Chair of the Council of the Federations in opposition to the proposed U.S. tariffs, already standing as a leader along side the Prime Minister.
Hon. Sylvia Jones, Minister of Health, and Deputy Premier: Minister Jones will continue in her role as both Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. This will see her lead the largest government Ministry and strive to meet very difficult challenges in the sector, including the banning of hallway medicine and access to family physicians. Health care access and hospital expansion/renewal will also be expected to continue under Minister Jones.
Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance: Minister Bethlenfalvy will keep his role as the Minister of Finance. He has held the role since December 2020. Well regarded as a steady hand at the helm of the ship, Minister Bethlenfalvy can be expected to introduce Budget 2025 in the early days after the Legislature reconvenes in April. Look for the Budget to address the U.S. tariffs and gain control of recent spending increases.
Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Education: Minister Calandra is a proven performer and the “go-to” guy when there is a government problem. A strong performer in the Legislature, he will continue to play an important role in the Cabinet and the management of our education system.
Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines: Minister Lecce will retain his position as Ontario’s Minister of Energy and add the Ministry of Mines to his responsibilities. They have removed Electrification from his title, but have provided an Associate Minister within the portfolio responsible for Energy Intensive Industries.
Hon. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade: Minister Fedeli returns to the role of the Government’s chief international salesperson. Travelling the globe, Minister Fedeli has brought home some major deals in the auto and manufacturing sectors and look for his roadshow to continue.
Hon. Doug Downey, Attorney General: A solid voice for overseeing the laws of the province, Downey will continue in this important role. A strong voice in Cabinet, look for Downey to continue his growth and reform of the judicial system in Ontario.
Hon. Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation: A very popular and well-respected Minister, look for Minister Sarkaria to continue to spearhead a number of projects across the province.
Hon. Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: A second-term MPP from the London area, Minister Flack has risen quickly and now assumes the challenging role of housing expansion in the province. Well respected by his peers, Minister Flack will now have to work with 444 municipalities to satisfy their needs from the province and work collectively for economic growth and expansion.
Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and the Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships: As a strong Minister from northern Ontario, Minister Rickford assumes an expanded role with a focus on the Ring of Fire and Indigenous Relations. Premier Ford is counting on a fast-track to expand access to Ontario’s critical minerals and Minister Rickford will coordinate the project.
Hon. Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General of Ontario: Minister Kerzner continues as Solicitor General with the responsibility to crack down on criminals and especially repeat criminals. With the addition of an Associate Minister, look for Minister Kerzner to aggressively work with the Attorney General to toughen bail and crack down on auto thefts in the province. Minister Kerzner beat Independent MPP Roman Baber (former PC) in York Centre to win his seat.
What This Means for You
After months of uncertainty, the Ontario Government is now in place to move forward with their majority mandate as given by the people in the recent election.
The new Cabinet is in place with mostly the same team and a relatively balanced number of changes. Most of the senior Ministries and Ministers remain in place while a few were moved around and re-branded.
In a month, the Legislature will return and for the most part, it will be business as usual. Members and their staff will once again be available and looking to move forward with their commitment to economic growth in Ontario. It will have to remain to be seen what staffing changes are to be made and how this may affect some files in progress.
The Government now has a mandate through until June 2029. The new mandate also includes support for dealing with the proposed U.S. tariffs and Premier Ford has indicated very clearly that he will not back down to the U.S. aggression on this issue. Look for some interesting encounters on this front.
