Northwestern Ontario will have a voice in Premier Doug Ford's cabinet and it will come with a number of responsibilities.
New Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford has been selected to lead a consolidated ministry that brings together the energy and northern development and mines ministries, as well as holding the Indigenous Affairs portfolio.
Rickford was one of 20 new cabinet ministers officially sworn in alongside Ford in a Friday morning ceremony in Toronto.
"It is an honour and a privilege to serve as the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs," Rickford tweeted.
Under the previous Liberal government those responsibilities had been divided between three individual ministers.
While Rickford is a newcomer to Queen's Park, he had previously served two terms as a federal MP for Kenora before falling in the 2015 election. His career in Ottawa included time as a member of former prime minister Stephen Harper's cabinet, briefly holding the natural resources title and minister of state for science and technology and FedNor.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation grand chief Alvin Fiddler said it wasn’t a surprise that the new government has shrunk the size of its cabinet but was disappointed the Indigenous Affairs will not be helmed by a single-portfolio minister.
“I think it sets the tone in terms of how they want to work with First Nations people in this region,” Fiddler said. “Obviously that’s a step backwards in our view to go back on one of the key recommendations from the (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) report.”
Fiddler said he hopes Rickford brings experience of working with regional Indigenous communities to the table.
“We know that he knows our communities. He’s also a former employee of one of our tribal councils – the Independent First Nations Alliance,” Fiddler said. “I know that he has firsthand knowledge of the challenges many of our communities face.”
While Fiddler remained conciliatory during an interview, a statement issued by Nishnawbe Aski Nation earlier in the day attributed to him put the PC government on notice to respect the treaty relationship.
"This government is advised that any effort to undermine the Treaty, ancestral or territorial rights of NAN First Nations will be decisively fought at both the political and legal levels. Our leaders are united in their resolve to protect and assert our rightful authority and jurisdiction over our homelands,” the statement reads.
The government announced that Rickford will have two parliamentary assistants. Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano will serve on the northern development and mines and Indigenous affairs files. Markham-Stouffville MPP Paul Calandra, a former federal colleague of Rickford, will handle energy.
Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle, one of the seven Liberals left standing after the June 7 election, congratulated Rickford on the role.
But, as the former minister of northern development and mines, Gravelle warned that it will be a challenging road ahead.
“I’m pleased Minister Rickford has been given such a prominent role in the new government. Obviously as the minister of energy, northern development of mines and Indigenous affairs he will have his hands full,” Gravelle said.
“I am disappointed that northern development and mines is no longer a standalone ministry, let alone Indigenous affairs, but it’s my position that I now need to work closely with Minister Rickford and the rest of the Ontario government.”
