Premier Ford Resets With A Cabinet Shuffle

As Ontarians struggle with the elevated prices of gasoline and groceries, Premier Ford hit the reset button on his cabinet table. Although there were three vacant seats at the table (the result of the resignation from cabinet of Tourism Gaming and Culture Minister Stan Cho, and the resignations from cabinet and from the legislature of Treasury Board President Caroline Mulroney and Sport Minister Neil Lumsden) that needed to be filled, more than just filling vacancies, the shuffle seems to be an attempt to escape from under the cloud of inappropriate and off-brand largesse that hovers over the Ford government as a result of the Premier’s $28 million executive jet purchase and quick turnaround sale and then his Toronto area MPPs billing downtown Toronto hotel stays to the taxpayers.

Here’s the “skinny” on our New Minister of Labour Immigration Training and Skills Development, Trevor Jones:

MPP for Chatham-Kent; first elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2025

BA Political Science and History (Windsor) 1991, MA History (Windsor) 2001

1998 – 2002 various roles at the Ministry of Transportation

2007 – 2018 constable and sergeant with the Ontario Provincial Police

2018 – 2022 Senior Director of Grower and Community Relations for Mastronardi Produce

December 2020 – January 2022 municipal councillor, Town of Leamington

Since arriving at Queen’s Park, he has served as PA agriculture food and rural affairs, PA economic development job creation and trade and deputy government house leader

Immediately prior to his appointment to labour, he was associate minister of emergency preparedness and response. and on On March 19, he was promoted to Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness,

Here’s the 411 on the New Members of the Cabinet

Brian Saunderson – Minister of Sport

Age 64

MPP for Simcoe-Grey

Son of William “Bill” Saunderson, a financial services businessman and minister of economic development in the government of former Premier Mike Harris

Was a member of the Canadian National Rowing Team and competed at two Olympic Games (1988 and 1992) and three World Championships, winning a silver medal in 1990 as a member of the Men’s Eight.

A lawyer who first practised with BLG in Toronto for 4+ years before moving to Collingwood to practise with Christie Cummimgs Barristers and Solicitors for almost 18 years

Member of the Collingwood Town Council for 7 years 7 months including 3 years 7 months as mayor

First elected to the Ontario legislature in 2022 and re-elected in 2025

During his time at Queen’s Park, he has served on various standing committees and as PA Attorney General, PA Economic Development, and PA Municipal Affairs & Housing

Michelle Cooper – Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

MPP for Eglinton Lawrence

First elected in 2025

BA, MA York University

Many positions listed on her Linkedin page, most notably starting an online retail business, womenswear manager at Holts and VP SkinHealth Canada

Immediately prior to her election she served as executive director of the PC Ontario Fund, the fundraising arm of the party for more than 4 years

During her time at Queen’s Park, until her appointment as associate minister, she served as PA Finance and continues to serve on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts

Matthew Rae – Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries 

Age 36

MPP for Perth-Welington

First elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2025

BA Guelph and Masters of Advanced International Studies from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna

Political staffer for former MP John Nater and for former MPP Randy Pettapiece

In his time at QP he has served as PA Education, PA Municipal Affairs and Housing and on various Standing Committees

Here Are the Ministers Who Were Shifted to New Portfolios

Zee Hamid, from Associate Attorney General for Auto Theft and Bail Reform to Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming
Trevor Jones, from Associate Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response to Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Sam Oosterhoff, from Associate Minister of Energy Intensive Industries to Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness
David Piccini, from Minister of Labour Immigration Training and Skills Development back to Minister of Infrastructure
Kinga Surma, from Minister of Infrastructure to President of the Treasury Board
Vijay Thanigasalam, from Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions to Associate Minister of Artificial Intelligence Adoption, as part of the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

These Cabinet Ministers Are Staying Put

Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
Doug Downey, Attorney General
Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services
Graham McGregor, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security
Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Paul Calandra, Minister of Education
Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response
Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines
Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance
Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and the Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships
Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care and Minister of Francophone Affairs
Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources
George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth
Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement
Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Red Tape Reduction
Lisa Thompson, Minister of Rural Affairs § Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility
Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General
Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation
Michael Tibollo, Associate Attorney General, as part of the Ministry of the Attorney General