Scott Stinson: Doug Ford tweaks his cabinet and shows his winning hand

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced several cabinet changes on Thursday, including moving Minister of Labour David Piccini to the Infrastructure portfolio. Piccini is currently under investigation by the integrity commissioner following questions raised by the auditor general about his management of the $2.5-billion Skills Development Fund.

Ford has maintained support for Piccini and the fund's achievements. Kinga Surma, formerly the Infrastructure minister, now serves as President of the Treasury Board, a position previously held by Caroline Mulroney, who resigned earlier this year.

Trevor Jones, who had been in the agriculture portfolio, has been appointed as the new Labour Minister, while Sam Oosterhoff, who held an associate minister role, takes on the Agriculture portfolio. Zee Hamid, who also held an associate minister role, has been appointed as the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, replacing Stan Cho, who resigned amid scrutiny for excessive hotel expenses in Toronto, despite residing there.

Brian Saunderson, a former Olympic rower, assumes the newly vacant Minister of Sport portfolio, previously held by Neil Lumsden who retired last month. The updated Executive Council includes Sylvia Jones as Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Sam Oosterhoff as Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness Minister, Doug Downey as Attorney General, Michael Parsa as Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Nolan Quinn as Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, Vic Fedeli as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Paul Calandra as Minister of Education, Jill Dunlop as Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Stephen Lecce as Minister of Energy and Mines, Todd McCarthy as Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, Peter Bethlenfalvy as Minister of Finance, Greg Rickford as Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and the Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships, David Piccini as Minister of Infrastructure, Trevor Jones as Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta as Minister of Long-Term Care and Minister of Francophone Affairs, Rob Flack as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Mike Harris as Minister of Natural Resources, George Pirie as Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth, Stephen Crawford as Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, Andrea Khanjin as Minister of Red Tape Reduction, Lisa Thompson as Minister of Rural Affairs, Raymond Cho as Minister for Seniors and Accessibility, Michael Kerzner as Solicitor General, Brian Saunderson as Minister of Sport, Zee Hamid as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, Prabmeet Sarkaria as Minister of Transportation, Kinga Surma as President of the Treasury Board, Vijay Thanigasalam as Associate Minister of Artificial Intelligence Adoption, Michael Tibollo as Associate Attorney General, Matthew Rae as Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries, Kevin Holland as Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products, Michelle Cooper as Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Graydon Smith as Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Nina Tangri as Associate Minister of Small Business, Charmaine Williams as Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity.