Image

McNaughton remains labour minister in provincial cabinet shuffle

June 18, 2021

Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton remains the Labour Minister after Premier Doug Ford shuffled his cabinet this afternoon.

Some notable changes included long-time Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman was removed from the portfolio, Lisa Thompson, the MPP for Huron Bruce, who farms with her husband in Teeswater, takes over. An MPP since Oct. 2011, she had been Education Minister in the past and has a degree in public administration and consumer economics.

And Rod Phillips returns to cabinet as the Minister of Long Term Care. Phillips left cabinet in January after taking a tropical vacation while the province was in a lockdown order and posting pre-recorded videos to hide the fact he was away.

Dr. Merrilee Fullerton – who was highly criticized as nearly 4,000 seniors died in long term care homes during the pandemic, now becomes the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.

  • Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North, becomes Minister of Colleges and Universities.
  • Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, MPP for Kanata-Carleton, becomes Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.
  • Parm Gill, MPP for Milton, becomes Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism.
  • Rod Phillips, MPP for Ajax, becomes Minister of Long-Term Care.
  • Dave Piccini, MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South, becomes Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
  • Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora-Rainy River, assumes a merged role as Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, as well as remains Minister of Indigenous Affairs. This new northern and economic focused ministry will enhance development potential and sustainability in the North. Energy will transfer to a new separate ministry.
  • Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte, becomes Minister of Energy.
  • Rosario Romano, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie, becomes Minister of Government and Consumer Services.
  • Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, MPP for Brampton South, becomes President of the Treasury Board.
  • Kinga Surma, MPP for Etobicoke Centre, becomes Minister of Infrastructure.
  • Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron Bruce, becomes Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
  • Stan Cho, MPP for Willowdale, becomes Associate Minister of Transportation, reporting to Minister Mulroney.
  • Jane McKenna, MPP for Burlington, becomes Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues, reporting to Minister Fullerton.
  • Nina Tangri, MPP for Mississauga Streetsville, becomes Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, reporting to Minister Fedeli.
  • Kaleed Rasheed, MPP for Mississauga East-Cooksville, becomes Associate Minister of Digital Government, reporting to Minister Bethlenfalvy.

Peter Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge and Minister of Finance, will assume responsibility for Ontario’s digital government strategy within the Ministry of Finance.

Share This

Image
Front Page

Greenhill Gardens closed; upkeep of six-acre garden ‘challenging’

June 16, 2025

The Independent Greenhill Gardens – a once privately-owned oasis in Wilkesport – is closed to the public. That from the St. Clair Region Conservation Foundation which took over the grounds in 2024. The gardens were cultivated by Joy Robson for years and her husband, Bill, allowed people to come and walk through the gardens for free. After the death of

Read More

Image
Front Page

Thedford EMS changes years away

June 15, 2025

The Independent Thedford residents won’t be losing their ambulance station for some time. That from Lambton County officials. Last month, Lambton Shores councillors voiced concern about a county plan which would close the Thedford station and have Forest paramedics to cover their calls. Lambton EMS also plans to move the Grand Bend station near Pinery Park hoping to provide better

Read More

Image
Front Page

No ATV rally for Petrolia Ag Society

June 15, 2025

The Independent There will not be ATVs rumbling through Petrolia this summer. Kelly Humphrey of the Petrolia Enniskillen Agricultural Society came to council in mid-May asking if PEAS could host an ATV rally with Greenwood Park as a starting and finishing point and using Petrolia streets to get to the starting and finishing point.  Julie Bullock, director of parks and

Read More

Image
Front Page

Fair banner may not fly

June 14, 2025

The Independent The Moore Agricultural Society has some big plans for the 175th anniversary of the Brigden Fair. But not all of their plans may work out. The ag society has asked for and received several approvals from St. Clair Township council for special events at the landmark fair including allowing a low-level Canadian Armed Forces Flyby and helicopter landings

Read More