Ford’s ‘government for the people’ will be sworn today
Much smaller cabinet is first step in an austerity program that will slash $6B in spending
Incoming premier Doug Ford is set to unveil a Progressive Conservative “government for the people” with an outdoor public ceremony at Queen’s Park. Three weeks after Ford toppled Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals, he and his new, leaner cabinet will be sworn in by Lieutenant-Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell today at the legislature.
The Tories were tight-lipped Thursday about who would sit in the first Conservative executive council since Ernie Eves was premier in 2003.
With a 76-member PC caucus, the rookie leader, who took the helm on March 10 after former chief Patrick Brown’s resignation, is leery about disappointing three-quarters of his MPPs.
Although Wynne had 28 cabinet members overseeing 30 different areas before her June 7 defeat, Ford will streamline and merge some ministries into about 20 departments.
Four Conservative sources, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal matters, told the Star that new ministers will not be allowed to choose their own chiefs of staff — those are being appointed by the premier’s office. Similarly, other top ministerial aides, such as press secretaries and legislative affairs assistants, will be vetted and hired by Ford’s senior staff.
It is an indication that the new premier plans to run a disciplined, centralized administration as he embarks upon an austerity program of slashing $6 billion in annual spending, or 4 per cent of the provincial budget.
The new premier, a one-term Toronto councillor and brother of late former Toronto mayor Rob Ford, will be sworn in at 11 a.m. on the grand staircase of the Ontario Legislature.
In an echo of former Liberal premier David Peterson’s 1985 swearing-in ceremony, Ford will then reaffirm his oath of office and make a speech to thousands of people expected outside legislative building, which is known as “the pink palace.”
The Tory leader has admitted his “biggest problem” was selecting a cabinet because he has “an all-star team” in caucus. On May 28 — in a turning point for the PC campaign — he showcased some of his top candidates at a “ready to govern” roundtable in Newmarket.
Ford indicated that day his cabinet would include Christine Elliott (Newmarket-Aurora), Rod Phillips (Ajax), Caroline Mulroney (York-Simcoe), Peter Bethlenfalvy (Pickering-Uxbridge), Greg Rickford (Kenora—Rainy River), and Doug Downey (Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte).
Others touted at the time included veteran MPPs Lisa MacLeod (Nepean), Raymond Cho (Scarborough North), and Vic Fedeli (Nipissing).
Beyond the influence and prestige of being in cabinet, there are also financial rewards. Ministers make $165,851 a year compared to $116,500 for backbench MPPs and receive additional staff and a car and driver. The premier earns $208,974.