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Ontario Premier Doug Ford has unveiled a sweeping cabinet shuffle just a year into his term, shifting Finance Minister Vic Fedeli out of his role after weeks of controversy over spending cuts buried inside his first budget.
Replacing Mr. Fedeli is Rod Phillips, the former Postmedia executive who had been in charge of the environment portfolio. Mr. Fedeli becomes Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, as well as chairman of cabinet.
Lisa MacLeod is being removed from her role as Minister of Children, Community and Social Services after months of battles with parent groups over the government’s overhaul of autism funding. She moves to tourism, culture and sport, and is replaced by former economic development minister Todd Smith.
Also out is Education Minister Lisa Thompson, amid battles with school boards and teachers unions over the government’s plan to increase class sizes and warnings that Queen’s Park’s policies will mean layoffs. Teacher contracts expire at the end of August.
She is replaced by newcomer to cabinet Stephen Lecce, an MPP for King-Vaughan, a suburban riding north of Toronto. Ms. Thompson will become Minister of Government and Consumer Services.
Attorney-General Caroline Mulroney, who has faced a storm over budget cuts to Legal Aid Ontario, moves to transportation, as the current minister, Jeff Yurek, replaces Mr. Phillips at environment. Replacing Ms. Mulroney as Attorney-General is Doug Downey, the rookie MPP for Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte who is a 49-year-old lawyer and former Orillia city councillor.
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See Also:
(1) Ford cabinet shuffle all about selling the message
(2) The buck stops at Doug Ford, not cabinet
