Smith taking over Education portfolio

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is shaking up his education and energy portfolios in a cabinet shuffle as the legislature heads into its summer break.

Stephen Lecce moves from education, where he has served as minister since 2019, to energy, swapping portfolios with Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith, who has been the minister of energy for the past three years.

Several new people have been promoted to cabinet, with new associate minister positions being created and some other ministries such as Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs being split in two.

It brings the cabinet to 36 people.

One of the new faces in cabinet is Mike Harris, the son of the former premier, and he takes over the Red Tape Reduction portfolio.

The ministers of health, finance, municipal affairs and housing, and colleges and universities are among those who are staying put.

Northumberland Peterborough South MPP David Piccini remains Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

(The Canadian Press)