Executive Council of Ontario

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The Ontario Cabinet of 1891. Clockwise starting at centre foreground: O. Mowat, A.S. Hardy, J.M. Gibson, R. Harcourt, E.H. Bronson, J. Dryden, G.W. Ross, C.F. Fraser

The Executive Council of Ontario (informally, and more commonly, the Cabinet of Ontario) plays an important role in the Government of Ontario, in accordance with the Westminster system.

A council of ministers of the Crown chaired by the Premier of Ontario, the Executive Council, almost always made up of members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, advises the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario on how to exercise the executive functions of the Ontario Crown. The members of the council are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, on the advice of his or her Premier; though the Lieutenant Governor does not generally attend council meetings, directives issued by the viceroy on the advice of his or her ministers are said to be ordered by the Governor-in-Council. Ministers hold the honorific prefix "The Honourable" while members of the council.

The cabinet is thus similar in structure and role to the federal Queen's Privy Council for Canada, though smaller in size, and, whereas the federal cabinet is actually a committee of the Queen's Privy Council, the Executive Council of Ontario and Cabinet of Ontario are one and the same. Also unlike the Queen's Privy Council, members of the Ontario Executive Council are not appointed for life, and are not entitled to post nominal letters due to their position.

Most cabinet ministers are the head of a ministry, but this is not always the case. The Lieutenant Governor, advised by the Premier, determines which portfolios will be created. It is then up to the new minister to organize his or her department, and to present legislation for the new ministry if none exists.

Current cabinet[edit]

Kathleen Wynne and her Cabinet were sworn in by Lieutenant-Governor David Onley on February 11, 2013.[1][2] There was a minor cabinet shuffle on May 8, 2013 following the resignation of Harinder Takhar due to health issues. A second shuffle occurred on July 2nd, 2013, following the resignation of Laurel Broten. A third shuffle occurred March 23, 2014 following the resignation of Linda Jeffrey to run for the position of Mayor of Brampton.

A major shuffle occurred on June 24, 2014, following the provincial election.

Minister Portfolio Since
Kathleen Wynne Premier of Ontario 2013
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs 2013
Deb Matthews Deputy Premier of Ontario 2013
Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet 2014
Eric Hoskins Minister of Health and Long-Term Care 2014
Glen Murray Minister of the Environment and Climate Change 2014
Michael Gravelle Minister of Northern Development and Mines 2013
Helena Jaczek Minister of Community and Social Services 2014
Reza Moridi Minister of Research and Innovation 2013
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities 2014
Jeff Leal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs 2014
Madeleine Meilleur Attorney General of Ontario 2014
Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs 2003
Bill Mauro Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry 2014
Liz Sandals Minister of Education 2013
David Zimmer Minister of Aboriginal Affairs 2013
Michael Coteau Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport 2014
Minister responsible for the 2015 Pan and Para Pan American Games
Yasir Naqvi Government House Leader 2014
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Charles Sousa Minister of Finance 2013
Brad Duguid Minister of Economic Development, Employment & Infrastructure 2014
Steven Del Duca Minister of Transportation 2014
Bob Chiarelli Minister of Energy 2013
Michael Chan Minister of Citizenship, Immigration & Trade 2014
David Orazietti Minister of Consumer Services & Government Services 2014
Tracy MacCharles Minister of Children and Youth Services 2014
Minister responsible for Women's Issues
Mario Sergio Minister responsible for Seniors 2013
Kevin Flynn Minister of Labour 2014
Ted McMeekin Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 2014
Jim Bradley Minister without Portfolio 2014
Chair of Cabinet
Mitzie Hunter Minister without Portfolio 2014
Associate Minister of Finance
Dipika Damerla Minister without Portfolio 2014
Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care

Former portfolios[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

See also[edit]