Provincial cabinet shuffle impacts Toronto

On the surface, the two biggest moves were the advancement of Scarborough Centre MPP, and former Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Brad Duguid to the senior energy and infrastructure post along with the move by long-time education minister Kathleen Wynne to the transportation portfolio.

Joining the cabinet ranks for the first time is Eric Hoskins from the St. Paul's riding. A "star" candidate who easily took the riding previously held by fellow Liberal Michael Bryant in a 2009 byelection, Hoskins was touted as a worthy cabinet member even during his campaign, so his appointment to citizenship and immigration comes as no surprise.

For Etobicoke Centre MPP Donna Cansfield, Monday's news was not so welcome. Cansfield, who had been Minister of Natural Resources, was dropped from cabinet. Holding their cabinet seats were Scarborough-Guildwood's Margarett Best in health promotion and Etobicoke-Lakeshore's Laurel Broten, in child and family services. Long-time Scarborough-Agincourt MPP Gerry Phillips, who had held the energy and infrastructure post on an interim basis after George Smitherman announced his intentions to run for mayor of Toronto, remains as McGuinty's cabinet chair and as Minister Responsible for Seniors.

Duguid has a solid track record in McGuinty's cabinet, having previously served as laboour minister and in aboriginal affairs. He will be see a significant increase in responsibility. It will be especially interesting to see how he, as a Scarborough MPP, deals with a controversial proposal for wind turbines off the Scarborough Bluffs given the importance of green energy programs to McGuinty. Duguid is also now responsible for the gigantic amount of infrastructure money put out by the province last year to get Ontario's economy moving. Failure to see this infrastructure funding bear fruit will leave the Liberals in a precarious position come the October 2011 provincial election.

But it is Don Valley West MPP Wynne's move that is most surprising. She has been education minister since 2006, and it was the perfect spot for the former Toronto District School Board trustee. Transportation seems an odd fit. The next year promises to be a difficult one for education in Toronto as both the public and Catholic boards are holding meetings to discuss possible school closures. These meetings are expected to be highly emotional. Making the situation more tense is that the Catholic board is currently under provincial supervision.

With all due respect to new education minister Leona Dombrowsky, Toronto residents would much prefer a minister personally familiar with the education challenges facing this city.