Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced several changes to his cabinet, including moving David Piccini into a new portfolio amid an ongoing integrity commissioner investigation into his handling of the Skills Development Fund. Piccini was announced as Ontario’s new minister of infrastructure as part of the cabinet shuffle, replacing Kinga Surma who takes over the role of President of the Treasury Board. That role was left vacant following the resignation of Caroline Mulroney in June. Trevor Jones will take over Piccini’s former portfolio as Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Jones previously served as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, a role that will now be held by Niagara MPP Sam Oosterhoff. Ontario’s integrity commissioner launched an investigation into Piccini’s handling of the Skill Development Fund last December after Ontario’s auditor general found that the selection of applicants to the $2.5 billion fund --which was set up to help train workers for in-demand professions – was not fair, transparent or accountable. On Thursday, Ford was asked by reporters whether the decision to move Piccini into a new portfolio had anything to do with his handling of the Skill Development Fund but said that was not the case. “I think it is an actual move. He trained over the last two years close to about 750,000 people and now it is an actual move to go into infrastructure,” he said. “We have about $235 billion of infrastrucre, no matter if its building $80 billion of the largest transit system in North America, $64 billion building 50 new hospitals or $30 billion on schools so it is an actual move.” Milton MPP Zee Hamid will also get an elevated role in Ford’s cabinet as Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. He replaces Stan Cho who resigned from cabinet over the summer following a scandal over thousands of dollars in expense claims for hotel stays in Toronto. For a full list of the changes follow this link. This is a breaking news story. More updates to follow.
