Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford is being counted on to push the Ring of Fire project in Ontario’s Far North over the finish line.
Rickford was handed the newly named portfolio of minister responsible for Ring of Fire economic and community partnerships in a swearing-in ceremony at Queen’s Park March 19. It was part of the unveiling Premier Doug Ford’s reshuffled cabinet following his February election victory.
Making progress in the stalled decades-old mining and road infrastructure projects is one of Ford’s main priorities in his Fortress Am-Can strategy to make Ontario a critical minerals powerhouse with tariff and trade war with the U.S. now underway.
Rickford will have dual ministerial duties in retaining his Indigenous Affairs post, which includes First Nations economic reconciliation.
The province’s experiment with a dedicated mines minister under George Pirie is over after one term. Pirie, the former mining executive and Timmins MPP, has been named the minister of northern economic development and growth.
Part of Pirie’s old job is being handed to King-Vaughan MPP Stephen Lecce, whose title is being modified from energy and electrification minister to energy and mines minister.
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli stays on the job as the province’s chief salesman in steering the ministry of economic development, job creation and trade.
Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith, formerly the natural resources minister, relinquishes that title to Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris. Smith is the new associate minister of municipal affairs and housing.
Ontario’s forestry industry will be overseen by Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Kevin Holland, who’s now the new associate minister of forestry and forest products, under the natural resources umbrella.
Niagara MPP Sam Oosterhoff is the associate minister of energy-intensive industries, as part of the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
A government news release said changes are being made to certain ministries’ areas of authority and responsibility.
Durham MPP Todd McCarthy, the new minister of environment, conservation and parks, will have oversight on conservation authorities.
Lecce’s energy and mines ministry and the associate minister of energy-intensive industries, under Oosterhoff, will be responsible for broadband expansion and connectivity.
A complete list of new cabinet postings can be accessed here.
