Finance Minister Vic Fedeli demoted in Ontario cabinet shuffle

Finance Minister Vic Fedeli was demoted within the Ontario cabinet today.

Premier Doug Ford made an announcement to shuffle his ministers today at 10:30 a.m. Fedeli was removed from his position as Finance Minister and will now be in charge of economic development.

Fedeli, a former mayor of North Bay, was the interim leader of the Progressive Conservatives after Patrick Brown was forced to quit amid sexual assault allegations, staying until Ford won the leadership race.

Fedeli had run against Brown for PC leader but said he didn’t have the money or support to mount another leadership bid last year.

The PC party has faced weeks of criticism due to cuts from Fedeli’s budget. Environmental Minister Rod Phillips, who played a major role in cancelling the province’s cap-and-trade program, will replace Fedeli.

Prior to the announcement, it was believed that Fedeli would be removed from the cabinet entirely.

Other ministers have been moved out of their portfolios today, including Education Minister Lisa Thompson and Children’s Services Minister Lisa MacLeod, who struggled with the autism file.

Ford has split the health ministry into two, with a new ministry of long term care.