Edelman Toronto | 150 Bloor St West Suite 300 | Toronto, ON M5S 2X9 | 416.979.0176
ONTARIO CABINET SHUFFLE
JANUARY 17, 2018
THE EDELMAN PERSPECTIVE
Cameron MacKay
Senior Vice President & Practice Lead, Public Affairs
Today, with less than 5 months before a general
provincial election, Premier Kathleen Wynne, has shuffled
several senior portfolios in her cabinet filling vacancies
opened by members who are not seeking re-election.
Ministers Brad Duguid, Deb Matthews and Liz Sandals
have all announced their retirement at the end of this
term opening high level cabinet positions and allowing
the Premier to elevate promising backbench members
and reassign others. Cabinet positions offer MPPS greater
resources and visibility, and are generally regarded as an
advantage during elections.
This shuffle aligns with the Premier’s objective to make
her executive council more youthful, diverse and gender
balanced. The updated cabinet will boast 13 women,
including the Premier, to 16 men. In the government caucus
of 56 members, 20 are women.
Indira Naidoo-Harris has taken on the role of Minister of
Education, replacing Mitzie Hunter, while also holding onto
her previous position as Minister for Early Years and Child
Care.
o She will be responsible for early years to postsecondary
education as well as lifelong learning systems.
o Key priorities for this portfolio are improving on
Ontario’s math strategy, enhance civic engagement in
schools, work collaboratively with indigenous partners,
and developing a strategy to improve the education for
students with special needs.
Filling the position as Minister of the Status of Women will
be newly appointed Harinder Malhi.
o Focus includes supporting women’s economic
empowerment. The minister has previously been tasked
with assisting the development of a Gender Gap Strategy
by Spring 2018.
Minister Mitzie Hunter will be moving into the Advanced
Education and Skills Development portfolio.
o She will be responsible for promoting the government’s
plan to provide free tuition to students from low and
middle-income families, beginning planning work around
a potential French-language university in Ontario and
developing an empowerment strategy for people with
disabilities.
Steven Del Duca is leaving his long-time post at
Transportation to take over the Ministry of Economic
Development and Growth.
o In his new role the Minister will be responsible for the
government’s strategy to grow the innovation economy
in Ontario and implementing the Highly Skilled
Workforce Strategy and modernizing Ontario’s
regulatory systems.
o The Minister will also advance Ontario’s internal
trade interests with other provinces and advance the
government’s objective to create innovation and reward
efficiency in new businesses contributing to the low-
carbon economy.
Kathryn McGarry, will now be moving into the
Transportation portfolio.
o Key files include transforming the existing GO Transit
rail network as well as moving toward an integrated
travel experience in the GTA and Hamilton area.
o A large part of this portfolio is supporting the
government in achieving transportation-related
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions laid out in the
Climate Change Action Plan.
McGarry is succeeded in her former role as Minister of
Natural Resources and Forestry by new cabinet member
Nathalie Des Rosiers.
o Des Rosiers will be responsible for the province’s natural
resources and work to safeguard provincial parks,
forests, fisheries, wildlife, mineral aggregates, crown
lands and waters.
o She is tasked with guiding land use planning and
co-ordinate the review of the Growth Plan and
Greenbelt Plans.
Eleanor McMahon will succeed Liz Sandals as President of
the Treasury Board.
o As president, she will be responsible for achieving fiscal
targets, most notably working toward a balanced budget
in 2018 while supporting services and critical
government investments.
Filling McMahon’s former role as Minister of Tourism,
Culture and Sport will be Kitchener-Centre MPP Daiene
Vernile, in her first cabinet appointment.
o She will be responsible for the Ontario Culture Strategy
to promote cultural engagement, fuel the creative
economy and promote the value of the arts throughout
the government.
o Under the climate change action plan, the minister is
responsible for retrofitting heritage buildings to reduce
energy consumption while preserving these
important landmarks.
Lastly, Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social
Services will assume the responsibility of Chair of Cabinet,
though Deb Matthews title as Deputy Premier will not
be filled.
Changes include:

Edelman Toronto | 150 Bloor St West Suite 300 | Toronto, ON M5S 2X9 | 416.979.0176
ONTARIO CABINET SHUFFLE – ONTARIO
JANUARY 17, 2018
NEW CABINET APPOINTMENTS
Cameron MacKay
Senior Vice President & Practice Lead, Public Affairs
Nathalie Des Rosiers | Ottawa Vanier
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
Harinder Malhi | Brampton Springdale
Minister of Status of Women
Daiene Vernile | Kitchener Centre
Minister of Tourism Culture and Sport
Indira Naidoo-Harris | Halton
Minister of Education and Minister of Early Years and Child Care
Steven Del Duca | Vaughan
Minister of Economic Development and Growth
Eleanor McMahon | Burlington
President of the Treasury Board
Kathryn McGarry | Cambridge
Minister of Transportation
Mitzie Hunter | Scarborough-Guildwood
Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development
Helena Jaczek | Oak Ridges-Markham
Chair of Cabinet, Minister of Community and Social Services