Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli is one of several high-profile ministers demoted in a major cabinet shuffle at Queen’s Park today.

He’s no longer Finance Minister, becoming Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Thanks to CityNews for the audio.

Premier Doug Ford says Fedeli did an ”incredible job” in finance and after the successes of year one, the focus is on Health and Education, followed by job creation.

“There’s no better salesperson on our team than Vic Fedeli. He started his own company, he was very successful and he’s the best salesperson we have, he’s going to be bringing more jobs to Ontario,” Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park.

Ford says the province is “a thousand times better off” then it was a year ago when it comes to their finances.

He says they’re now putting the right people in the right place at the right time.

“Nothing outside of health and education is more important than economic development and job creation, and I can’t ask for a better person than Vic to get out there and represent our province, and invite more companies around the world to come in here and open up shop,” Ford says.

Fedeli is also Chair of Cabinet.

Several ministers are switching portfolios.

Lisa MacLeod, who angered parents over her handling of the autism file as minister of children, community and social services is taking over the tourism, culture and sport portfolio.

Another minister being demoted in the shuffle is Education Minister Lisa Thompson who will be responsible for government and consumer services.

Environment Minister Rod Phillips, who played a major role in the cancellation of the province’s cap-and-trade program, replaces Fedeli in Finance.

The shuffle comes just after Ford and his Tories marked the one-year anniversary of winning a majority government.

Here is Ontario’s new cabinet:

• Premier and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs – Doug Ford
• Deputy Premier and Minister of Health – Christine Elliott
• Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions – Michael Tibollo
• Minister of Long-Term Care – Merrilee Fullerton
• Minister of Finance – Rod Phillips
• Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade and Chair of Cabinet – Vic Fedeli
• Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction – Prabmeet Sarkaria
• Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing – Steve Clark
• Solicitor General – Sylvia Jones
• Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks – Jeff Yurek
• Minister of Children, Community and Social Services – Todd Smith
• Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues – Jill Dunlop
• Minister of Labour – Monte McNaughton
• Attorney General – Doug Downey
• Minister of Transportation and Minister of Francophone Affairs – Caroline Mulroney
• Associate Minister of Transportation (GTA) – Kinga Surma
• Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities – Ross Romano
• Minister of Education – Stephen Lecce
• President of the Treasury Board – Peter Bethlenfalvy
• Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry – John Yakabuski
• Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs – Greg Rickford
• Associate Minister of Energy – Bill Walker
• Minister for Seniors and Accessibility – Raymond Cho
• Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs – Ernie Hardeman
• Minister of Infrastructure – Laurie Scott
• Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport – Lisa MacLeod
• Minister of Government and Consumer Services – Lisa Thompson
• Government House Leader – Paul Calandra

 

(With files from The Canadian Press)

(File photo by station staff)

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