TORONTO -- Premier Kathleen Wynne promoted seven backbenchers to an expanded 30-seat Ontario cabinet table Monday while demoting the minister responsible for the autism file that created a public relations nightmare for her Liberal government.
Tracy MacCharles, who bore the brunt of parental anger over changes to autism therapy programs, lost her job as minister of children and youth services to be minister without portfolio responsible for women's issues and accessibility.
Glenn Thibeault, the former New Democrat MP lured by Wynne to run as a provincial Liberal in a 2015 byelection in Sudbury, was rewarded for crossing party lines with the biggest promotion of the day to become Ontario's energy minister.
The other new faces in cabinet are: Eleanor McMahon in Tourism, Culture and Sport; Kathryn McGarry in Natural Resources and Forestry; Marie-France Lalonde in Consumer Services; Laura Albanese in Citizenship and Immigration; Chris Ballard in Housing; and Indira Naidoo-Harris as associate minister of finance responsible for the Ontario pension plan.
Mitzie Hunter, who had been overseeing the new pension plan, is the new education minister, replacing Liz Sandals, who becomes president of the Treasury Board.
Michael Chan moves from Citizenship and Immigration to the new Ministry of International Trade, while Yasir Naqvi is the new attorney general.
The cabinet shakeup comes with just two years until the next election in June 2018, as the Liberals shift from planning to implementing their $8.3 billion climate change action plan, a cap-and-trade scheme for polluters and a new Ontario pension plan.
"The plan is in place, and now, at the mid-point of our mandate, our focus is on implementing our plan so that we can continue to deliver on our top priority -- creating jobs and growth," Wynne said at the swearing-in ceremony.
The premier also said it's difficult trying to balance skill sets, geographic considerations as well as gender politics when forming a new executive council.
"Putting a cabinet together is one of the most personally difficult tasks required of a premier, and I can tell you -- as I name my third cabinet -- it does not get easier," she said.
"The new cabinet is slightly larger, reflecting our decision to create stand alone ministries charged with implementing key parts of our plan."
Forty per cent of the cabinet is women, added Wynne.
Health Minister Eric Hoskins, Finance Minister Charles Sousa and Environment Minister Glen Murray kept their portfolios, while Bob Chiarelli moved from Energy to Infrastructure, which became a stand-alone ministry.
Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid got the word "Growth" added to his title, while David Orazietti moved from Consumer and Government Services to be the new minister of community safety and correctional services.
Deputy Premier Deb Matthews is now minister of advanced education and skills development and also Ontario's first minister responsible for digital government.
Four cabinet veterans resigned last week to make way for the new blood, including Attorney General Madeleine Meilleur, Seniors Minister Mario Sergio, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ted McMeekin and cabinet chair Jim Bradley.
Here is a list of the positions:
Premier of Ontario, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs: Kathleen Wynne Premier and President of the Council
Deputy Premier, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, Digital Government: Deborah Matthews
President of the Treasury Board: Elizabeth Jean Sandals
Minister of Finance: Charles Sousa
Associate Minister of Finance (Ontario Retirement Pension Plan): Indira Naidoo-Harris
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care: Eric William Hoskins
Minister of Education: Mitzie Jacquelin Hunter
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change: Glen Ronald Murray
Minister of Energy: Glenn Edward Thibeault
Minister of Economic Development and Growth: Brad Duguid
Minister of Transportation: Steven Alfonso Del Duca
Minister of Infrastructure: Bob Chiarelli
Minister of Northern Development and Mines: Michael John Gravelle
Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: David Zimmer
Minister Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs : Jeff Leal
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services: David Michael Orazietti:
Minister of Community and Social Services: Helena Jaczek
Minister of International Trade: Michael Kwok Chi Chan
Minister of Research, Innovation and Science: Reza Moridi
Attorney General, Government House Leader: Yasir Naqvi
Minister of Children and Youth Services, Anti-Racism: Michael Joseph Coteau
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care: Eric William Hoskins
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change: Glen Ronald Murray
Minister of Infrastructure: Bob Chiarelli
Minister of Labour: Kevin Daniel Flynn
Minister of Children and Youth Services: Michael Joseph Coteau
Minister Responsible for Women's Issues, Accessibility: Tracy MacCharles
Minister of Municipal Affairs: William Joseph Mauro
Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs: Dipika Damerla
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration: Laura Albanese
Minister of Housing, Poverty Reduction Strategy: Christopher Stephen Ballard
Minister of Government and Consumer Services, Francophone Affairs: Marie-France Lalonde
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry: Kathryn McGarry
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport: Mary Eleanor McMahon