Premier Doug Ford announces new Cabinet

Lisa MacLeod has been moved from Minister of Children, Community and Social Services to Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Education Minister Lisa Thompson, who participated in OGCA’s lobby day, will be responsible for Government and Consumer Services. MPP Stephen Lecce will be her replacement.

Through our alliance partners, such as the Ontario Skilled Trades Alliance (OSTA), the OGCA will be making curriculum reform recommendations that will promote the skilled trades to the new Minister in the coming weeks.

As speculated, Minister of Finance Vic Fedeli has moved to a new, large ministry dedicated to northern Ontario. The Minister faced harsh criticism after tabling the party’s first budget.

Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey was appointed Attorney General in the Doug Ford government. Downey, who is an Orillia-based lawyer, is in his first term as MPP with the Progressive Conservatives. The OGCA had an opportunity to meet with MPP Downey on May 8 to discuss promotion and retention of careers in the skilled trades. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with the newly appointed Minister. The OGCA is in communication with Ministers' staff to ensure a successful roll out of Bill 142, the Construction Lien Amendment Act.

Minister Monte McNaughton and Minister Laurie Scott have swapped portfolios with McNaughton becoming Labour Minister and Scott moving into Infrastructure. The OGCA has a longstanding relationship with both Ministers and has already spoken with Minister McNaughton about CORTM Accreditation. OGCA members are concerned that the Accreditation of Employers, as it is proposed, will be harmful to the progress made in the construction sector to date. The approximately 370 CORTM certified companies will be forced to recertify under the MOL program that will include four modules that are similar but not identical to those in CORTM. Minister McNaughton recognizes the OGCA’s position on this file and has committed to working with our association to find solutions.

Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano has been named Minister of Training, Colleges and University. Romano was first elected to Queen’s Park in a June 2017 by-election. Minister Romano replaces MPP Merrilee Fullerton who has moved to the Ministry of Long-Term Care. As the Ontario College of Trades winds down its functions, many of its functions will move into the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. The Minister and his staff are currently in the process of selecting a chief skills panel to design and implement a long term skills strategy for the province of Ontario.

For any questions, please email Steve Crombie Steven@ogca.ca

Click here for the full list of Cabinet changes.