Ontario Gets New Ag Minister

Jan 18, 2010

Scrambling to slap a fresh new face on an administration daunted by a record deficit and potentially unpopular tax reforms, Premier Dalton McGuinty is radically revamping his cabinet.

McGuinty promoted former aboriginal affairs minister Brad Duguid to the powerful post of energy and infrastructure on Monday to replace interim minister Gerry Phillips, who had stepped up for the departed George Smitherman, now the front-running candidate for the Toronto mayoralty.

Phillips will remain chair of cabinet and a minister without portfolio responsible for seniors.

Attorney General Chris Bentley will add aboriginal affairs to his duties.

Former education minister Kathleen Wynne is being moved to transportation. Wynne, seen as a future leadership hopeful, will be succeeded at education by Leona Dombrowsky, who had been agriculture minister. Replacing Dombrowsky at agriculture is backbencher Carol Mitchell (Huron-Bruce.)

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