Executive Council of Ontario

The Ontario Cabinet of 1891. Clockwise starting at centre foreground: O. Mowat, A.S. Hardy, J.M. Gibson, R. Harcourt, E.H. Bronson, J. Dryden, G.W. Ross, C.F. Fraser

The Executive Council of Ontario (informally, and more commonly, the Cabinet of Ontario) plays an important role in the Government of Ontario, in accordance with the Westminster system.

A council of ministers of the Crown chaired by the Premier of Ontario, the Executive Council, almost always made up of members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, advises the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario on how to exercise the executive functions of the Ontario Crown. The members of the council are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, on the advice of his or her Premier; though the Lieutenant Governor does not generally attend council meetings, directives issued by the viceroy on the advice of his or her ministers are said to be ordered by the Governor-in-Council. Ministers hold the honorific prefix "The Honourable" while members of the council.

The cabinet is thus similar in structure and role to the federal Queen's Privy Council for Canada, though smaller in size, and, whereas the federal cabinet is actually a committee of the Queen's Privy Council, the Executive Council of Ontario and Cabinet of Ontario are one and the same. Also, unlike the Queen's Privy Council, members of the Ontario Executive Council are not appointed for life, and are not entitled to post-nominal letters due to their position.

Most cabinet ministers are the head of a ministry, but this is not always the case. The Lieutenant Governor, advised by the Premier, determines which portfolios will be created. It is then up to the new minister to organize his or her department, and to present legislation for the new ministry if none exists.

Current cabinet

Kathleen Wynne and her Cabinet were sworn in by Lieutenant-Governor David Onley on February 11, 2013.^[1][2] There was a minor cabinet shuffle on May 8, 2013 following the resignation of Harinder Takhar due to health issues. A second shuffle occurred on July 2nd, 2013, following the resignation of Laurel Broten. A third shuffle occurred March 23, 2014 following the resignation of Linda Jeffrey to run for the position of Mayor of Brampton.

A major shuffle occurred on June 24, 2014, following the provincial election. A major shuffle occurred on June 13, 2016.

Former portfolios

• Ministry of Children's Services (2003–2004)
• Ministry of Citizenship and Culture (1983–1987)
• Ministry of Citizenship (1987–1995; 2001–2003)
• Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation (1995–2001)
• Ministry of Colleges and Universities (1972–1993)
• Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services (2002–2003)
• Ministry of Consumer and Business Services (2003–2005)
• Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations (1972–2001)
• Ministry of Correctional Services (1972–1993; 1999–2002)
• Ministry of Culture and Communications (1987–1993)
• Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation (1993–1995)
• Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism (1995–1999; 2008–2011)
• Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (1999−2008)
• Ministry of Education and Training (1993–1999)
• Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (2007–2010)
• Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology (1997–2002)
• Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation (2002–2003)
• Ministry of Environment and Energy (1993–1997; 2002)
• Ministry of Financial Institutions (1986–1993)
• Ministry of Health (1972–1999)
• Ministry of Housing (1973–1981; 1985–1995)
• Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology (1985–1993)
• Ministry of Municipal Affairs (1985–1995; 2003–2004)
• Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal (2005−2008)
• Ministry of Public Safety and Security (2002–2003)
• Ministry of Skills Development (1985–1993)
• Ministry of the Solicitor General (1972–1993; 1999–2002)
• Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services (1993–1999)
• Ministry of Tourism (1999–2001)
• Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation (2001–2002)
• Ministry of Transportation and Communications (1971–1987)
• Ministry of Treasury and Economics (1978–1993)
• Provincial Secretary and Registrar of Ontario (from 1961 Provincial Secretary and Minister of Citizenship) (list) (1867–1975)

References

External links

• Cabinet of Ontario

See also

• Order of precedence in Ontario
• Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the 41st Legislative Assembly of Ontario
• Ontario New Democratic Party Shadow Cabinet of the 41st Legislative Assembly of Ontario