Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced changes to his Cabinet on Friday (June 18), including naming Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini as the new Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Piccini, first elected in 2018, was previously parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Colleges and Universities and a member of the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs.
The Port Hope resident now heads the ministry responsible for responsible for air quality, water quality including drinking water, environmental protection, climate change, species at risk, Ontario’s provincial parks, and more.
Another Cabinet change of interest to residents of the greater Kawarthas is the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, which has now been combined with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines to become the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry — a change also made from 1995 to 1997.
The former natural resources minister John Yakabuski has left Cabinet, with Greg Rickford now assuming responsibility for the amalgamated ministry.
Here’s the full list of the Cabinet changes announced today:
- Jill Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe North, becomes Minister of Colleges and Universities.
- Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, MPP for Kanata-Carleton, becomes Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.
- Parm Gill, MPP for Milton, becomes Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism.
- Rod Phillips, MPP for Ajax, becomes Minister of Long-Term Care.
- David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South, becomes Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
- Greg Rickford, MPP for Kenora-Rainy River, assumes a merged role as Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, as well as remains Minister of Indigenous Affairs. Energy will transfer to a new separate ministry.
- Todd Smith, MPP for Bay of Quinte, becomes Minister of Energy.
- Rosario Romano, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie, becomes Minister of Government and Consumer Services.
- Prabmeet Singh Sarkaria, MPP for Brampton South, becomes President of the Treasury Board.
- Kinga Surma, MPP for Etobicoke Centre, becomes Minister of Infrastructure.
- Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron Bruce, becomes Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
- Stan Cho, MPP for Willowdale, becomes Associate Minister of Transportation, reporting to Minister Mulroney.
- Jane McKenna, MPP for Burlington, becomes Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues, reporting to Minister Fullerton.
- Nina Tangri, MPP for Mississauga Streetsville, becomes Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, reporting to Minister Fedeli.
- Kaleed Rasheed, MPP for Mississauga East-Cooksville, becomes Associate Minister of Digital Government, reporting to Minister Bethlenfalvy.
