CABINET RESHUFFLE

Ford ousts five ministers, promotes younger caucus members and brings back Rod Phillips

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford shuffled his cabinet on Friday, introducing new members, ousting several others, and bringing back a minister who resigned last year after violating pandemic travel guidelines.

Ford said the changes — which come less than a year before the next provincial election — were made as his government focuses on the province’s recovery from COVID-19.

“Our renewed team is well positioned to deliver on the priorities that matter to Ontarians, including getting more people back to work, making life more affordable, supporting businesses and job creators and building transit infrastructure,” he said in a statement.

Rod Phillips, who left his role as finance minister after travelling to St. Barts in December contrary to public health rules, is notably back in cabinet as the new minister of long-term care.

His vacation when the government advised against all nonessential travel generated a political storm that saw Ford criticized for not taking action when he first learned of the trip.

He now replaces Merrillee Fullerton, who becomes minister of children, community and social services.

Fullerton has been heavily criticized for the havoc COVID-19 wrought on long-term care — 3,794 nursing home residents died from the virus and thousands more were infected. A scathing report published this spring found the neglected sector was unprepared for a pandemic.

Friday’s shuffle also saw five ministers moved out of cabinet, including former environment minister Jeff Yurek, and former infrastructure minister Laurie Scott.

Several younger caucus members, meanwhile, were promoted to more prominent cabinet portfolios.

David Piccini becomes minister of environment and Kinga Surma takes on the infrastructure file. Parm Gill takes on the new portfolio of citizenship and multiculturalism, the first minister to head up the role.

Health Minister Christine Elliott, Education Minister Steven Lecce, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, Attorney General Doug Downey and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy remain in their prominent positions.