Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford has rejigged his cabinet as the provincial legislature rises for its summer recess. Most notably, Ford swapped education minister Stephen Lecce’s and energy minister Todd Smith’s roles, renaming the latter portfolio to the minister of energy and electrification.
“It has been an honour of a lifetime to serve in the Ministry of Education because we did the hard things that will have generational impacts for kids,” said Lecce after being sworn-in.
Lecce’s time as the PC government’s education minister has been fraught with controversy, taking heat from both the left and conservatives for his policy choices.
During Lecce’s time as education minister, Ontario schools were closed longer than in any other province in the country. He also oversaw the expansion of anti-racism and DEI in the curriculum. He has been praised by many advocates for more recently instituting a ban on phones in classrooms.
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani celebrated Lecce’s departure from the education ministry, hoping that the personnel change will bring policy change.
“Ontario has desperately needed a new education minister for years,” said Jivani.
“I hope real policy changes are coming, so this will be remembered as a great day for all students, parents and teachers.”
The Durham MP and the Progressive Conservatives had butted heads a few months ago, as Jivani took aim at the “liberal elites” running Ontario’s ministry of education, prompting a response from Ford claiming credit for Jivani’s success.
Lecce says that he will stand against the federal government’s carbon tax in his role as energy and electrification minister, doubling down on a Ford government position.
Todd Smith, the MPP for Bay of Quinte, takes the reins of the education file after serving as the minister of energy for nearly three years.
“I am honoured to be taking on the role of Minister of Education,” said Smith on X.
“As Premier @fordnation and our new cabinet continue to rebuild Ontario’s economy I’m looking forward to ensuring our students are prepared for the careers of the future.”
Ford also made MPP Steve Clark his house government leader, who had resigned as the minister of municipal affairs and housing in September 2023 after breaking ethics legislation in his role in the Greenbelt scandal. The move comes as a surprise, as Clark’s reputation had been greatly damaged by the Greenbelt scandal and his time as housing minister.