July 27, 2009
Daniel Nolan
The Hamilton Spectator
Ontario Conservative leader Tim Hudak is taking on the additional role of critic of Citizenship and Immigration as well as being party leader.
The Niagara West-Glanbrook MPP unveiled his shadow cabinet today, saying it will focus on two things: holding the Dalton McGuinty government to account in the areas of job creation and economic renewal; and defeating the Liberal government in the 2011 election.
?We need innovative ideas grounded in conservative principles in order to get Ontario moving,? Hudak said in a statement. ?Together, united and strong, we can focus on the issues that matter to middle-class families, defeat Dalton McGuinty and the Ontario Liberals and bring prosperity to our province.?
Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett, an earlier supporter of Hudak?s leadership bid, will remain as Environment critic and will also continue as caucus chair.
Hudak named Burlington MPP Joyce Savoline as the critic for Municipal Affairs and Housing. She served as Education critic under former leader John Tory.
And Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh will be critic for the Attorney General. He was critic for Economic Development and Trade.
Taking on the key job as Finance critic - a post Hudak once held - will be Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Norm Miller.
Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod will become Revenue critic and lead the party?s fight against the Liberal?s plan to harmonize the provincial sales tax with the federal GST. She will also be entrusted with a new role as watchdog for government accountability.
Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman moves to the Economic Development and Trade portfolio and will also keep his critic portfolio of Francophone Affairs.
Hudak also named his leadership challengers to key posts. Whitby-Oshawa MPP Christine Elliott will be Deputy Leader of the PC caucus and critic for Health and Long Term Care.
Newmarket-Aurora MPP Frank Klees will be Infrastructure and Transportation Critic, focusing on highway gridlock and placing a priority on Ontario?s infrastructure.
And Randy Hillier, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, is the new critic for Labour as well as Northern Development, and Mines and Forestry.
Veteran Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman will be House Leader for the Official Opposition.
(See below for full list of Progressive Conservative Critics and Legislative positions.)
dnolan@thespec.com
905-526-3351
Critic Portfolio New Critic
Aboriginal Affairs Ted Arnott
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman
Attorney General Ted Chudleigh
Children and Youth Services Sylvia Jones
Citizenship and Immigration Tim Hudak
Community and Social Services Sylvia Jones
Community Safety and Correctional Services Garfield Dunlop
Consumer Services, Small Business and Red Tape Julia Munro
Culture Ted Arnott
Economic Development and Trade Peter Shurman
Education Elizabeth Witmer
Energy John Yakabuski
Environment Toby Barrett
Finance Norm Miller
Francophone Affairs Peter Shurman
Government Services John O?Toole
Health and Long-Term Care Christine Elliott
Health Promotion Gerry Martiniuk
Intergovernmental Affairs Norm Sterling
Labour Randy Hillier
Municipal Affairs and Housing Joyce Savoline (Urban),
Bill Murdoch (Rural and
Northern)
Natural Resources Jerry Ouellette
Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Randy Hillier
Public Infrastructure Frank Klees
Research and Innovation Jim Wilson
Revenue and Government Accountability Lisa MacLeod
Seniors? Secretariat Gerry Martiniuk
Border Issues and Tourism Bob Runciman
Training, Colleges and Universities Jim Wilson (Colleges and Universities),
Bob Bailey (Training and Apprenticeship)
Transportation Frank Klees
Women?s Directorate Elizabeth Witmer
Caucus and House Positions
Deputy Leader Christine Elliott
House Leader Bob Runciman
Deputy House Leader John Yakabuski
Chief Whip Norm Miller
Deputy Whip John O?Toole, Ted Chudleigh
Caucus Chair Toby Barrett