Doug Ford To Unveil New Cabinet After Third Majority Win

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is set to unveil his new cabinet on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, after successfully securing a third consecutive majority government in a snap election held three weeks ago. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) at 2:00 p.m., led by Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont. This event marks a significant moment for Ford, as he intends to affirm his executive council while addressing critical issues facing the province.

In January, Ford dissolved the legislature and called the early election, which he cites was necessary due to the economic challenges presented by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs. "I have to make sure I put the proper cabinet ministers in based on the mandate we received from the people that I am very grateful for, and we’re just going to continue moving forward with the infrastructure projects and everything else," Ford stated in a recent press briefing.

The Progressive Conservative Party won 80 seats in the election, which is a minor decrease from their 83 seats in the 2022 election. Despite the slight drop, Ford's government has increased its hold on power, pushing the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) into the role of Official Opposition with 27 seats and the Liberal Party regaining status with 14 elected members.

Political analysts expect a status quo cabinet with most of the current ministers retaining their positions, as Ford seeks to project stability in his administration. Andrew Brander, a vice president at Crestview Strategies, indicated that any drastic changes to the cabinet could contradict Ford's message to voters during the election, where he advocated for a strong mandate for stability. Brander remarked, "Quite frankly, if the premier were to come in and make any kind of drastic changes to that, I think that would fly in the face of what he had been advocating for."

NDP Leader Marit Stiles has publicly called for a complete overhaul of the cabinet, citing missteps by various ministers in the previous administration. She criticizes the lack of timely responses to pressing issues such as the ongoing doctor shortage and transit project delays. "What we saw in the last government was a health minister who didn’t think that the doctor shortage was a major concern, we saw a transportation minister who can’t open transit projects and an infrastructure minister who just didn’t answer questions at all," she pointed out.

In response to mounting pressure, Ford faces the challenge of balancing stability with the need for accountability. He previously confirmed that he would directly engage with the U.S. tariffs threat, acknowledging it as a top priority. However, he clarified that he would not create a separate ministerial portfolio for tariff negotiations—emphasizing a collaborative multi-ministerial approach to tackle the issue. He said, "It’s a multi-ministerial group. We’ll all be working together.”

As the cabinet reshuffle looms, sources indicate that the size of Ford's cabinet is expected to remain substantial. Since he took office in 2018, Ford has steadily increased the number of ministers. Following the latest adjustments in July 2024, the cabinet comprised 37 members, including various associate ministers. As Ford prepares for the upcoming term, strategies regarding ministerial appointments are under scrutiny. Political consultant Laryssa Waler expressed, "For a new minister to assume a file, it takes a long time. It’s not just swapping around the chairs. Putting together a cabinet involves multiple variables and data points that the premier's team will consider."

With the Ontario Legislature scheduled to return on April 14, 2025, all eyes will be on Ford's new cabinet as it prepares to face pressing issues derived from both the electorate's mandate and external pressures, especially from the economic landscape across the border.

Critics from opposition parties have also raised concerns regarding the potential size and funding of Ford's cabinet. Stiles has accused Ford of using the cabinet to provide pay increases to provincial politicians through cabinet positions, calling it a “sneaky raise.” She argues, "Doug Ford has tried his best to give his own MPPs a sort of sneaky raise by creating all of these cabinet positions and parliamentary assistant positions. That's a lot of Ontario taxpayer dollars being spent to prop up those MPPs, so I have concerns.”

Ultimately, as the swearing-in approaches, Premier Doug Ford's decisions regarding his cabinet could define the trajectory of his administration. While strategies for managing tariffs and improving infrastructure remain paramount, navigating the expectations of stakeholders along with pressures from the opposition will be vital to his continued success.