Ontario Cabinet shuffle: How retail is impacted

On Friday, September 22, 2023, Ontario Premier Doug Ford shuffled his cabinet following the resignation of the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton, and, earlier in the week, the resignation of the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, Kaleed Rasheed.

McNaughton resigns his position to pursue a career in the private sector, while Rasheed resigned his position after continued pushback on his handling of removing land from the Greenbelt. Rasheed is also out of the PC Caucus, pending findings from the Ethics Commissioner.

The cabinet shuffle is as follows:

• David Piccini becomes the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (former Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks).
• Andrea Khanjin becomes the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
• Todd McCarthy becomes the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery
• Vijay Thanigasalam becomes Associate Minister of Transportation.

The changes in both Labour and Environment are significant for retailers, particularly with six different environmental consultations ongoing to determine changes to stewardship regulations and understand the potential impacts of a deposit return system. We will be connecting with Ministers Piccini and Khanjin to speak to continued priorities in labour and in environment. Many of the other changes have minimal retail impact.

For more information, please email Sebastian Prins, Director, Government Relations, at sprins@retailcouncil.org.