In June the new Ontario Cabinet was sworn in on the front lawn of Queen’s Park. The new Executive Council has several new faces; however, many ministers are remaining in the portfolios they held prior to the election. Just a week later Parliamentary Assistants were announced, with many new MPPs taking on additional responsibilities.
Most notably for the mining sector, a new standalone ministry has been created which will be led by George Pirie as the Minister of Mines, with a mandate to develop the Ring of Fire. Minister Pirie served as Mayor of Timmins prior to his election, and is also the former President and CEO of Placer Dome Canada, which operated 13 gold mines in 7 countries under his leadership. Minister Pirie will be supported by Anthony Leardi, the newly elected MPP for Essex. The former Deputy Mayor of Amherstburg, MPP Leardi has spent over a decade as a federal agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
It is expected that MPPs will be returning to Queen’s Park for a brief summer sitting as the government moves to act on their priorities, and, perhaps most importantly, moves to pass a version of the Budget introduced prior to the election.
Prior to the election, Greg Rickford, who represents the riding of Kenora-Rainy River, served as Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry and as Minister of Indigenous Affairs. The portfolio was carved up as part of the shuffle, with Rickford retaining Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs. Graydon Smith, the newly elected MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka, is taking on Natural Resources and Forestry. Minister Rickford will continue to be supported by MPP Dave Smith (Peterborough-Kawartha) in the Parliamentary Assistant role. Minister Smith will be supported by newly elected MPP Ric Bresee (Hastings-Lennox and Addington), who previously served as the Mayor of Loyalist Township and Warden of Lennox and Addington County.
The most notable promotion goes to Sylvia Jones who takes on the roles of both Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, previously held by Christine Elliott. Deputy Premier Jones has represented Dufferin-Caledon since 2007. Peter Bethlenfalvy, who represents Pickering-Uxbridge, remains as Minister of Finance, Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing, remains as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade (with an expanded mandate for small business), and Prabmeet Sarkaria, representing Brampton South, remains as President of the Treasury Board with an expanded mandate around procurement.
It is expected that MPPs will be returning to Queen’s Park for a brief summer sitting as the government moves to act on their priorities, and, perhaps most importantly, moves to pass a version of the Budget introduced prior to the election.
The previous Budget included significant investment in the Ring of Fire, and electric vehicle manufacturing, with critical road infrastructure specifically highlighted as necessary to strengthen the Ontario supply chain for electric vehicles, and hailed as the means to foster thousands of well-paying jobs across Ontario.
PearTree is looking forward to working with the newly elected government, and all MPPs, on initiatives that will foster a more vibrant mining sector, and a more prosperous Northern Ontario. We will continue to advocate for an increase in the 5% provincial exploration tax credit, and look forward to working with mineral exploration companies and other stakeholders towards this important step for our industry.
Alanna can be contacted at alanna.clark@peartreecanada.com, and welcomes your comments on this piece.
