Doug Ford announces major Ontario cabinet shuffle and creates new AI minister role

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a cabinet shuffle Thursday, moving embattled Labour Minister David Piccini to the infrastructure portfolio.

Piccini is under investigation by Ontario’s integrity commissioner after the auditor general raised questions about his handling of the $2.5 billion Skills Development Fund.

Ford has defended both Piccini and the programme.

Trevor Jones will replace Piccini as labour minister, while former infrastructure minister Kinga Surma becomes Treasury Board president.

The position had been vacant since Caroline Mulroney resigned earlier this year. Sam Oosterhoff will take over Jones’s former agriculture portfolio.

Zee Hamid becomes minister of tourism, culture and gaming, replacing Stan Cho, who resigned after facing criticism over $16,000 in Toronto hotel expenses despite living in the city.

Former Olympic rower Brian Saunderson has been named minister of sport following Neil Lumsden’s retirement last month.

Ford also created a new position focused on artificial intelligence. MPP Vijay Thanigasalam will serve as associate minister of artificial intelligence adoption.

The province said the role will focus on helping businesses adopt new technology and supporting workers displaced by AI.