Doug Ford shuffles cabinet, brings back minister who violated travel guidance

Ont. Premier Doug Ford shuffles cabinet Ont. Premier Doug Ford has brought his former finance minister back into his cabinet as part of a large overhaul. Colin D’Mello reports.

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford is replacing his minister of long-term care, promoting a minister into the job who resigned last year after violating pandemic travel guidelines.

Merrilee Fullerton's replacement will be Rod Phillips, the former finance minister who was forced to resign last December for travelling to St. Barts while the rest of the province was told to stay at home.

"With 21 per cent of adults now fully vaccinated as Team Ontario sets new records in daily shots, we can be confident that the worst of the pandemic is behind us," Ford said in a statement Friday.

"As we continue our work to rebuild and support Ontario’s health system, our renewed team is well positioned to deliver on the priorities that matter to Ontarians, including getting more people back to work, making life more affordable, supporting businesses and job creators and building transit infrastructure."

The significant change is part of a mid-sized cabinet shuffle – conducted virtually with the Lieutenant-Governor on Friday -- designed to remove some members and promote other MPPs to higher-profile posts ahead of the next election.

While the major pandemic players, including Health Minister Christine Elliott, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, Solicitor General Sylvia Jones and Education Minister Stephen Lecce will remain in their current roles — other minister are being ejected from cabinet altogether.

Ministers losing their portfolios include Bill Walker, Jeff Yurek, Ernie Hardeman, Laurie Scott and John Yakabuski.

Government sources say the premier is "not firing people" but instead introducing a "more geographically, ethnically representative of the province" ahead of the next election.

While the shuffle affects 15 MPPs, it is the removal of Fullerton from the long-term care post that the most notable change.

Fullerton has been named the minister of Children, Community and Social Services – a move that government sources say is "in no way a demotion." She will now be responsible for the third largest ministry in the Ontario government.

The Ontario NDP has already criticized Phillips' return to cabinet and his new role in shaping the election platform for the Progressive Conservative party as a "bad choice."

"Doug Ford kept Rod Phillips near and dear to him even after his elaborate St. Barts vacation cover-up. Phillips jetted off to luxurious St. Barts, covering up his tracks as he went with pre-written messages, pre-recorded Christmas greetings, and a fake Zoom background, while the rest of Ontario hunkered down and followed public health advice to stay home over the holiday," the party said in a statement.

Ross Romano, the former minister of Colleges and Universities, will now serve as the minister of Government and Consumer Services. Jill Dunlop, the former minister of Children and Women's Issues, will take over the role.

Full list of changes