Dalton McGuinty appears to have taken the financial realities of Ontario to heart with this weeks announcement of a slimmed-down, but very experienced cabinet for his new minority government. The Premier announced this week that he is trimming the number of cabinet members down to 22 from 28, the smallest provincial cabinet since 1998, as a reflection of the tough economic times that lay ahead.

In a move to promote austerity, the Premier announced the collapse of the Revenue ministry back into Finance, Innovation into Economic Development, and Health Promotion into Health. It is also noteworthy that no new cabinet members have been added, in a bid to demonstrate the “stable hand on the tiller” that the Premier promised voters during the election.
Despite the fact that there are no newcomers to cabinet, there are several members that have been moved up to replace the four ministers who lost their seats in the election. The most noteworthy of these is the promotion of Laurel Broten, who represents Etobicoke-Lakeshore, to the position of Education Minister, replacing Leona Dombrowsky. Additionally, Jim Bradley replacer John Wilkinson as Environment Minister, Ted McMeekin replaces Carol Mitchell as Agriculture Minister, and Sophia Aggelonitis portfolio as Revenue Minister will be taken over by the Minister of Finance – Dwight Duncan.

There will now be six women in cabinet — or 27 per cent — compared to 11 of 28 — or 39 per cent — beforehand, and the influence of Toronto and the surrounding GTA will be increased from 11 — or 39 per cent — to 10 of 22, or 45 per cent.
Here is a complete list of this edition of cabinet:

Dalton McGuinty:
Premier, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Jim Bradley:
Minister of the Environment

Rick Bartolucci:
Minister of Northern Development and Mines, Chair of Cabinet

Dwight Duncan:
Minister of Finance, Deputy Premier

John Gerretsen:
Attorney General

Chris Bentley:
Minister of Energy

Madeleine Meilleur:
Minister of Community Safety &

Correctional Services, Minister
Responsible for Francophone Affairs

Harinder Takhar:
Minister of Government Services

Kathleen Wynne:
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs

Michael Chan:
Minister of Tourism and Culture

Michael Gravelle:
Minister of Natural Resources

Brad Duguid:
Minister of Economic Development and Innovation

Deb Matthews:
Minister of Health and Long Term Care

John Milloy:
Minister of Community and Social Services, Government House Leader

Margarett Best:
Minister of Consumer Services

Laurel Broten:
Minister of Education, Minister of Women's Issues

Linda Jeffrey:
Minister of Labour, Minister Responsible for Seniors

Eric Hoskins:
Minister of Children and Youth Services

Glen Murray:
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities

Bob Chiarelli:
Minister of Transportation, Minister of Infrastructure

Charles Sousa:
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Ted McMeekin:
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

For more information, visit the official press release:
http://www.ontarioliberal.ca/OurTeam/WhoWeAre/cabinet.