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Rapid Recap: Ontario Cabinet Shuffle Sees a New Minister of Long-Term Care

September 22, 2023

Rapid Recap: Ontario Cabinet Shuffle Sees a New Minister of Long-Term Care

 

Ontario, September 4, 2023- Premier Doug Ford unveiled a mid-term cabinet refresh following this morning’s resignation of former Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark. Clark’s resignation comes in the aftermath of two Greenbelt reports by the Auditor General and the Integrity Commissioner that outlined a deeply flawed process that favoured certain developers and lacked transparency. In his report, Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner went as far as recommending that Clark be reprimanded in the Legislature for “failing to oversee the process by which lands in the Greenbelt were selected.”

The shuffle announced on September 4, 2023, saw five existing ministers move into new portfolios and brought two backbenchers into cabinet, with government house leader Paul Calandra replacing Clark. In the news release announcing the changes, the government highlighted the commitment of the renewed Executive Council to deliver on the government’s promise to build Ontario.

While there were no changes to the health portfolio, the full details of the shuffle are as follows:

  • Paul Calandra, MPP for Markham-Stouffville, replaces Steve Clark as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, previously serving as the Minister for Long-Term Care;
  • Stan Cho, MPP for Willowdale, becomes Minister of Long-Term Care, previously serving as the Associate Minister of Transportation;
  • Prabmeet Sarkaria, MPP for Brampton South, becomes Minister of Transportation, previously serving as the President of the Treasury Board;
  • Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe, becomes President of the Treasury Board (in addition to her role as Minister of Francophone Affairs), previously serving as the Minister of Transportation;
  • Rob Flack, MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, becomes Associate Minister of Housing with a specific mandate on attainable housing and modular homes reporting to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, previously serving as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs;
  • Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham, becomes Associate Minister of Transportation reporting to the Minister of Transportation, previously serving as the Deputy Government Whip and the Parliamentary Assistant to the President of the Treasury Board; and
  • Nina Tangri, MPP for Mississauga-Streetsville, becomes Associate Minister of Small Business reporting to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, previously serving as the Associate Minister of Housing.
  • Andrea Khanjin, MPP for Barrie-Innisfil, will have an expanded role and will assume additional responsibilities as Deputy Government House Leader reporting to Paul Calandra, who will remain Government House Leader.

About Ontario’s New Minister for Long-Term Care

The Honourable Stan Cho

 

Stan Cho is the MPP for Willowdale and the former Associate Minister of Transportation, and was previously the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance.

 

He holds a degree in philosophy from Trinity College at the University of Toronto where he played varsity rugby and served in the student government. Stan is a second-generation Korean-Canadian and was raised in the Willowdale neighbourhood of North York.

He began his career as an auditor for Mercedes-Benz before entering his family’s real estate business. He worked as an agent for fifteen years before taking over as broker and general manager of their Royal LePage franchise.

What’s Next?

An additional shuffle may occur for Ontario’s Parliamentary Assistants (PAs) given the promotion of MPPs Rob Flack and Todd McCarthy to Associate Minister roles. However, this is not guaranteed considering most Ministers have two PAs.

Premier Ford also has a press conference scheduled at 10:00 a.m on Tuesday, September 5. The Premier is expected to reiterate the changes announced through the press release this evening.

As summer comes to a close, the House is expected to return on Monday, September 25, 2023.

Additional Reading

  • Read the Government of Ontario press release here.