Sandals Stays Put as Education Minister

Kathleen Wynne's new majority government revealed it's starters yesterday, the front bench as it were, or in other words, she revealed the members of her new cabinet. Obviosuly, with a lot of new talent following the June 12 election, Wynne has some exciting prospects, not to mention some fresh blood, but it seems that instead she's relying mostly on experience. For example, Guelph MPP Liz Sandals will remain the Minister of Education when the Legislature sits again next week. What other highlights can Ontarians look forward to with their new governement?

For one thing, Charles Sousa will remain the finance minister, but newly re-election Scarborough-Guildwood MPP Mitzie Hunter will be the new associate minister of finance, repsonsible for the implementaiton of the new made-in-Ontario pension plan. Other cabinet minsters keeping their jobs include the aforementioned Sandals on education, Bob Chiarelli in energy, Madeleine Meilleur as attorney general, Michael Gravelle at northern development and mines, Kevin Flynn in labour, and David Zimmer at aboriginal affairs.

The much besieged Deb Matthews will be leaving the health portfolio behind to become president of the Treasury Board and Deputy Premier, while Eric Hoskins trades minister of economic development, trade and employment for dealing with the Ornge headaches in the health file.

Standing with Hoskins in controversy is former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Michael Coteau, who will now head up the tourism, culture and sport portfolio, which includes the controversial Pan Am Games portion of the film. Michael Chan will take over citizenship, immigration and international trade, while Brad Duguid takes on the role of minister for economic development, employment and infrastructure.

Steven Del Duca will become the new transportation minister, while his predecessor, Glen Murray, will take over as the newly renamed minister of the environment and climate change. Former environment minister Jim Bradley will remain in cabinet as chairman.

Across the aisle, someone else was looking for a promotion as Christine Elliott becomes the first person to officially put their name forward to succeed Tim Hudak as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. Elliott is the widow of Jim Flaherty, former federal finance minister, who took over her husband's Oshawa-Whitby seat in 2006. This would be the second time Elliott's ran for the leadership of the PCs. She placed third in the 2009 race behind Hudak and Frank Klees. 

The Ontario Legislature resumes on July 2.