Vaughan MPP Steven Del Duca added to Kathleen Wynne's cabinet

YorkRegion.com
June 24, 2014
Adam Martin-Robbins

Vaughan Liberal MPP Steven Del Duca is reportedly cruising into a major cabinet post.

Del Duca, who won the June 12 election by a huge margin, is set to be named transportation minister this afternoon, according to media reports.

Del Duca has yet to be reached for comment.

It's the first cabinet post for the 40-year-old, who was first elected in a September 2012 by-election.

As transportation minister, Del Duca will lead the $15-billion transit investment in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and the $14 billion in new transportation infrastructure in the rest of Ontario.

He succeeds Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray.

The move is part of a major cabinet shuffle that will see Premier Kathleen Wynne name Dr. Eric Hoskins to replace Deb Matthews as health minister.

Matthews, who remains deputy premier, becomes chairperson of the Treasury Board after almost five years at the helm of the government's most challenging department.

Murray, meanwhile, moves to environment, taking over for veteran Jim Bradley, who will stick around as minister without portfolio and dispense advice and wisdom in cabinet.

Brad Duguid, who had been at training, colleges and universities, is getting a promotion.

Duguid, the Scarborough Centre MPP, takes over a reconstituted economic development, employment and infrastructure minister.

Gaining new authority is Research and Innovation Minister Reza Moridi, a nuclear scientist and Richmond Hill MPP, who will also run training, colleges and universities.

Community Safety Minister Yasir Naqvi adds government house leader to his duties.

Ted McMeekin, a former Hamilton city councillor and Flamborough mayor, who had been at community and social services, becomes minister of municipal affairs and housing.

McMeekin's former responsibilities at community and social services are being taken over by Dr. Helena Jaczek, MPP for Oak Ridges-Markham.

Jaczek, a one-time chief medical officer of health in York Region, completes the rookie quartet in Wynne's executive council.

No one was dumped from cabinet.

Bill Mauro leaves municipal affairs and housing to become natural resources minister.

Rural Affairs Minister Jeff Leal adds agriculture and food to his portfolio, taking those duties from Wynne.

David Orazietti moves from natural resources to a revamped consumer and government services ministry.

Tracy MacCharles, who was at consumer services, takes over the children and youth services department, which had been run by Windsor West's Teresa Piruzza, the lone Liberal incumbent minister defeated in the election.

Staying put are: Finance Minister Charles Sousa, Education Minister Liz Sandals, Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli, Attorney General and Francophone Affairs Minister Madeleine Meilleur, Northern Affairs and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle, Labour Minister Kevin Flynn, Seniors Minister Mario Sergio and Aboriginal Affairs Minister David Zimmer.

Bob Delaney remains chief government whip.

— with files from Torstar News Network