New changes announced in Ontario Premier’s cabinet

Tracy MacCharles became Minister of Government and Consumer Services and retained her role as Minister Responsible for Accessibility.

Her duties would be creating more inclusive, diverse and accessible public services with fairness and transparency in consumer markets and strengthening French-language services to facilitate Franco-Ontarians to access services they need.

She said, “I would execute the powers entrusted to me.”

Marie, Marie-France Lalonde, formerly Minister of Government and Consumer Services becomes Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and will continue to serve as Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs. Its mandate is long-term transformation of the correctional system; reduction in police interactions with the public; legislation to investigation of missing persons; and considering options for regulating exotic animals. She said she had “worked as a social service agent in the mental health department and she will meet with correctional officers to chart out the priorities.”

Dipika Damerla, previously Minister Responsible for Seniors, becomes Minister of Seniors Affairs, leading a new, standalone ministry.

She will work with partners to promote age-friendly communities and improve the quality of life of Ontario seniors.

Its mandate is to improve the quality of life of Ontario seniors, such as last September's launch of a program that offers the shingles vaccine free of charge to seniors -- a first in Canada. She said, “seniors are the fastest growing community in Ontario, with more people over the age of 65 than children over the age of 15.” She said she “would be responsible for creating social changes in home care so that seniors can lead more proactive fulfilling lives.” The voices of seniors would be heard to shape policies and programs

Indira Naidoo-Harris became Minister of Women's Issues. She will look into the province's gender wage gap strategy and build gender equality across Ontario. Its mandate is creation of 100,000 new licensed child care spaces within five years. MPP Naidoo-Harris will also serve as Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care.

Jeff Leal, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs had also been appointed as Minister Responsible for Small Business with the aim of facilitation of growth of small businesses, innovative economy that provides jobs and prosperity across the province. He said, “98 percent of economic activity over the past two years has been on farming and approximately $52,000 on funding farms” and continued in the light of Trump’s rule in the future things would move rather slowly. Considering increase in hydro bills he would continue to work with his colleagues in Peterborough and Ottawa and with deputy minister to bring some changes in this infrastructure.

The changes announced today will accelerate competition amongst small businesses, awareness of existing programs to reduce business costs, especially through energy conservation, creating  awareness about the potential of export markets to help sell their products and services outside Canada.

Ontario would also reduce regulatory burdens by identifying and improving regulations that are unclear, outdated, or costly to enable companies to do business with the government through a friendlier online interface.

A swearing-in ceremony was held at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Queen's Park, Toronto this morning in the presence of Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell.

(Reported by Asha Bajaj)