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Rapid Recap: Premier Ford’s “Renewed” Cabinet

 

Thursday, June 6, 2024 – Amidst early election speculation, Premier Ford announced significant changes to his Cabinet today. Minister Jones remains Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, with MPP Natalia Kusendova-Bashta becoming Minister of Long-Term Care, replacing Minister Stan Cho.

In Budget 2024, the Ontario government announced an investment of $155.5 million to increase the long-term care construction funding subsidy, which supports the cost of developing or redeveloping a long‐term care home in order to manage the increasing construction costs on many capital projects. Delivery on infrastructure projects will be a major focus for the new Minister in the coming months.

The cabinet shuffle comes immediately after the Legislature rises for the next four and a half months — a longer than anticipated summer recess. The extended break will allow the new ministers to onboard their staff and establish their policy agendas. However, it also fuels ongoing speculation that the PCs may be contemplating an early election, providing MPPs with plenty of time to engage with their constituents in their ridings.

The full details of today’s shuffle are as follows:

New Members of Cabinet

Ministers

  • Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, MPP for Mississauga Centre, replaces Stan Cho as Minister of Long-Term Care, previously serving as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility and to the Minister of Long-Term Care.

  • Mike Harris, MPP for Kitchener—Conestoga, replaces Parm Gill (no longer an MPP) as Minister of Red Tape Reduction, previously serving as Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier.

  • Rob Flack, MPP for Elgin—Middlesex—London, takes on a new position as Minister of Farming, Agriculture and Agribusiness, previously serving as Associate Minister of Housing.

Associate Ministers

  • Stephen Crawford, MPP for Oakville, takes on a new position as the Associate Minister of Mines as part of the Ministry of Mines, previously serving as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance.

  • Trevor Jones, MPP for Chatham—Kent—Leamington, takes on a new position as Associate Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response as part of Treasury Board Secretariat, previously serving as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

  • Nolan Quinn, MPP for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, takes on a new position as Associate Minister of Forestry as part of the Ministry of Natural Resources, previously serving as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health.

  • Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, takes on a new position as Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries as part of the Ministry of Energy and Electrification, previously serving as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Cabinet Shuffles

Ministerial Changes

  • Stan Cho, MPP for Willowdale, takes on a new position as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, with responsibility for the OLG, previously serving as Minister of Long-Term Care.

  • Neil Lumsden, MPP for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, takes on a new position as Minister of Sport, with Tourism and Culture removed from his ministerial portfolio.

  • Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan, takes on a new position as Minister of Energy and Electrification, previously serving as Minister of Education. This position is an expansion of the Minister of Energy role, previously held by Todd Smith.

  • Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham, takes on a new position as Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, now with responsibility for Supply Ontario, which was previously held by the Treasury Board.

  • Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora—Rainy River, remains the Minister of Northern Development and the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, with First Nations Economic Reconciliation added to his portfolio.

  • Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte, replaces Stephen Lecce as Minister Education, previously serving as Minister of Energy.

  • Graydon Smith, MPP for Parry Sound—Muskoka, remains Minister of Natural Resources, with Forestry removed from his ministerial portfolio.

  • Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron—Bruce, becomes Minister of Rural Affairs with Agriculture and Food removed from her ministerial portfolio.

Associate Ministerial Changes

  • Vijay Thanigasalam, MPP for Scarborough—Rouge Park, replaces Rob Flack as Associate Minister of Housing as part of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, previously serving as Associate Minister of Transportation

Additional Changes

  • Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, replaces Paul Calandra as Government House Leader. Clark had previously resigned as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in September 2023 following the Greenbelt land swap controversy.

Biographies of the new Ministers and Associate Ministers can be found at the end of this memo.

What’s Next?

The Legislature was expected to return September 9, 2024, but MPPs will now return to Queen’s Park on Monday, October 21, 2024, leaving four and a half months between now and when the House will next meet. Top of mind for commuters, the Ontario government has also indicated that they will not table back-to-work legislation to avoid a Toronto Transit Commission strike unless it receives an official request from the City of Toronto. This request would either prolong this legislative session or require a recall in the near future.

Speculation of an early provincial election remains, however the latest polling from Abacus Data shows Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario continues to lead over Bonnie Crombie’s Ontario Liberal Party by 13 percentage points. If an election were held today, 39% of committed voters in Ontario would vote PC with the Liberals securing 26% of the vote, the NDP closely behind at 22% and the Greens at 9%.

There are several reasons why the governing PC Party may wish to call an early election:

  • The Ontario PC Party has strong fundraising numbers and a favourable view from the public. They will want to secure their third mandate before the opposition parties make significant political gains.

  • There is an ongoing RCMP investigation on changes to the Greenbelt and Ontario’s privacy commissioner says she will publish a special report about the use of non-government emails and deleted messages related to it.

  • Balance theory: Ontario voters tend to elect different parties at Queen’s Park and in Ottawa at the same time. The next federal election will occur on or before October 20, 2025 and the governing PC Party of Ontario may wish to secure a third term before a potential change in government at the federal level.

Organizations should begin planning their advocacy for the upcoming budget cycle to ensure their asks of government are reflected in the 2025 Ontario Budget. With the next legislative session pushed to the end of October, timelines are now condensed for advocacy around the Fall Economic Statement (FES) which often acts as the fiscal roadmap in anticipation of the budget.

If you have any questions about today’s cabinet shuffle or advocacy for the upcoming year, please contact your Santis Health lead. 

About the New Ministers

The Honourable Natalia Kusendova-Bashta

Natalia Kusendova-Bashta is the new Minister of Long-Term Care and the MPP for Mississauga Centre. She previously served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister for Seniors and Accessibility and the Minister of Long-Term Care. She was elected in 2018.

Prior to politics, Kusendova-Bashta worked as a Registered Nurse at the Etobicoke General Hospital as well as the Vanier Centre for Women. She also served as a policy and political action executive network officer for the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, Peel Chapter, and as a member of the Canadian Polish Congress National Executive Board. Kusendova-Bashta holds a Bachelor of Science Degrees in Human and Molecular Biology from the University of Toronto and in Nursing from Nipissing University.

 

The Honourable Rob Flack

Rob Flack is the new Minister of Farming, Agriculture and Agribusiness and the MPP for Elgin—Middlesex—London. He previously served as the Associate Minister of Housing. He was elected in 2022.

Flack has had a long career working in agriculture prior to getting elected. He began his career with Masterfeeds Inc., an animal nutrition company, and became its president and CEO in 1993. Additionally, he served in multiple leadership roles with the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Board, Canadian Hereford Association, and owns and operates Flack Farms.

 

The Honourable Mike Harris

Mike Harris is the new Minister of Red Tape Reduction and MPP for Kitchener—Conestoga. He previously served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier. He was elected in 2018.

Harris grew up in rural Northern Ontario. As an MPP, he has tabled legislation on reducing red tape for car dealers and child safety initiatives.

 

 

About the New Associate Ministers

The Honourable Trevor Jones

Trevor Jones is the new Associate Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response as part of the Treasury Board Secretariat and the MPP for Chatham—Kent—Leamington. He previously served as the Deputy Government House Leader and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. He was elected in 2022.

Jones previously served as a police officer and worked closely alongside service groups and communities in the agricultural space. Following his career in law enforcement, Jones transitioned to a business executive role in the agriculture sector.

 

The Honourable Stephen Crawford

Stephen Crawford is the new Associate Minister of Mines as part of the Ministry of Mines and the MPP for Oakville. He previously served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance. He was elected in 2018.

He is a member of the Oakville Chamber of Commerce, 100 Guys who Care – Oakville and is a vocal supporter of Plan Canada’s “Because I am a Girl” campaign which advances equal rights for girls and women world-wide.

 

 

The Honourable Sam Oosterhoff

Sam Oosterhoff is the new Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries and the MPP for Niagara West. He previously served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. He was elected in 2016.

Oosterhoff’s young career began in politics, having been elected as MPP at 19 years old. He has taken leadership on a number of issues, such as anti-human trafficking policy, French-language education, student transportation, rural economic development, and championing the redevelopment of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby.

 

The Honourable Nolan Quinn

Nolan Quinn is the new Associate Minister of Forestry as part of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the MPP for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry. He previously served as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health. He was elected in 2022.

Quinn previously worked for Saint Elizabeth Health Care specializing in Human Resources Management. He volunteers with many organizations including the United Way, the Children’s Treatment Centre, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation. He is a passionate advocate for children’s mental health and wellbeing and served on the Children’s Treatment Centre’s Board for Directors for three years.

 

Further Reading

  • Read the Government of Ontario press release here.
  • Read Santis Health’s Rapid Recap on the Ontario Budget 2024 here.