Premier Ford Unveils the List of Parliamentary Assistants

Closely following last week’s swearing-in of Cabinet, the Premier today revealed the list of MPPs that will serve as Parliamentary Assistants. Traditionally, each Minister has a Parliamentary Assistant who is tasked to lead special projects or assignments. As a result, stakeholders ought to pay particular attention to this new roster of Parliamentary Assistants and their assigned portfolios.  

Of note is that numerous Ministers this time have multiple Parliamentary Assistants. The complete list of Parliamentary Assistants is as follows:

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: Rob Flack (Elgin-Middlesex-London) and Trevor Jones (Chatham-Kent-Leamington)

Attorney General: Brian Saunderson (Simcoe-Grey)

Children, Community and Social Services: Logan Kanapathi (Markham-Thornhill) and Nolan Quinn (Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry)

Citizenship and Multiculturalism: Billy Pang(Markham-Unionville) and Graham McGregor (Brampton North)

Colleges and Universities: Natalie Pierre (Burlington)

Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade: Andrew Dowie (Windsor-Tecumseh) and Effie J. Triantafilopoulos (Oakville North-Burlington)

Education: Patrice Barnes (Ajax) and Matthew Rae (Perth-Wellington)

Energy: Stéphane Sarrazin (Glengarry-Prescott-Russell) and Jess Dixon (Kitchener South-Hespeler)

Environment, Conservation and Parks: John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke)

Finance: Stephen Crawford (Oakville) and Rick Byers (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound)

Francophone Affairs: Natalia Kusendova (Mississauga Centre)

Health: Robin Martin (Eglinton-Lawrence) and Dawn Gallagher Murphy (Newmarket-Aurora)

Indigenous Affairs: Dave Smith (Peterborough-Kawartha)

Infrastructure: Amarjot Sandhu (Brampton West) and Vijay Thanigasalam (Scarborough-Rouge Park)

Intergovernmental Affairs: Andrea Khanjin (Barrie-Innisfil)

Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development: Deepak Anand (Mississauga-Malton), with responsibility for immigration, and David Smith (Scarborough Centre)

Legislative Affairs: Mike Harris (Kitchener-Conestoga)

Long-Term Care: John Jordan (Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston)

Tourism, Culture and Sport: Laura Smith (Thornhill) and Sheref Sabawy (Mississauga-Erin Mills)

Mines: Anthony Leardi (Essex)

Municipal Affairs and Housing: Kevin Holland (Thunder Bay-Atikokan)

Natural Resources and Forestry: Ric Bresee (Hastings-Lennox and Addington)

Northern Development: Dave Smith (Peterborough-Kawartha)

Public and Business Service Delivery: Brian Riddell (Cambridge) and Vincent Ke (Don Valley North)

Red Tape Reduction: Sam Oosterhoff (Niagara West)

Seniors and Accessibility: Daisy Wai (Richmond Hill)

Solicitor General: Christine Hogarth (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) and Bob Bailey (Sarnia-Lambton)

Transportation: Hardeep Singh Grewal (Brampton East)

Treasury Board: Rudy Cuzzetto (Mississauga-Lakeshore) and Todd J. McCarthy (Durham)

Premier: Lorne Coe (Whitby)

In addition earlier this week the Secretary of the Cabinet, Michelle DiEmanuele, issued a memo outlining the new lineup of Deputy Ministers. While there have been some changes, many Deputy Ministers have retained the roles they held prior to the election. We are also expecting Ministers’ Chiefs of Staff to be confirmed in the coming days, as well as confirmation of the dates for the summer sitting of the Legislature.