Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli was sworn in for his fourth term on Thursday night and Friday Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced his new, 30-person cabinet where Fedeli will retain his role as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade with an additional mandate for small business.
Many of the cabinet ministers remain in the same portfolios they held during Ford's last government, such as Stephen Lecce in education, Peter Bethlenfalvy as minister of finance, and Caroline Mulroney in transportation.
See related: Ford names new cabinet
"With big challenges ahead, including an uncertain global economic climate, now is the time for unity and working together," said Ford in a release.
"Our government will be relentless in delivering on our ambitious plan to grow our economy and build infrastructure aw we leave no stone unturned when it comes to solving the historic labour shortage. It's all hands on deck."
Mining is another area in which Ford plans to focus, appointing a single person to oversee the file, rather than having it as part of a ministry along with northern development, natural resources and forestry. George Pirie, the former mayor of Timmins who won the seat in that city after the NDP held it for 32 years, will now be minister of mines, with a specific mandate to develop the Ring of Fire.
Ford has touted his critical minerals strategy as a way to use northern resources to be used in manufacturing electric vehicles in the southern part of the province.
With files from Canadian Press
