Amid sagging polling numbers, Premier Doug Ford has shuffled his inner circle, and a lot of changes have been made.
One of the most anticipated changes was in the finance portfolio. Vic Fedeli has been replaced as Finance Minister by Rod Phillips who was the Minister of the Environment. Fedeli will instead head up the Economic Development, Jobs Creation and Trade Ministry.
Todd Smith had held that post but will move to Children, Community, and Social Services. Lisa MacLeod is now the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
Paul Calandra will take over Smith's second job as Government House Leader.
Ontario Education Minister Lisa Thompson during question period at Queen's Park.
Another significant change was moving Lisa Thompson out of Education and into Consumer Services. Instead, Stephen Lecce is the new Education Minister.
Ross Romano is the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Some had anticipated a change for Lisa MacLeod. She will now head up the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services.
Greg Rickford, who was the Energy Minister, will now head up the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, and Indigenous Affairs. Bill Walker is the new Associate Minister of Energy.
Caroline Mulroney, daughter of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, will leave the Office of the Attorney General to come the new Minister of Transportation and Francophone Affairs. Doug Downey is the new Attorney General, while Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek, who was the Minister of Transportation will now serve as the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Kinga Surma is the Associate Minister of Transportation.
MPP McNaughton speaks at the Ontario Legislature, February 25, 2015. (Photo courtesy of the Ontario Legislature via YouTube)
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton will swap places with Laurie Scott. He becomes the new Labour Minister, while she takes over Infrastructure.
Christine Elliott is the Deputy Premier and will remain the Health Minister, but Premier Doug Ford has split up some of her duties. Michael Tibollo is the new Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, while Merilee Fullerton takes over as the Minister of Long-Term Care.
Jill Dunlop is the new Associate Minister of Children and Women's Issues, while Prabmeet Sarkaria will fill the post of Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape.
Peter Bethanfalvy keeps his job as President of the Treasury Board. Steven Clark stays on as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Sylvia Jones is still the Solicitor General. Raymond Cho is still the Minister of Seniors and Accessibility. Ernie Hardeman will stay on as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.