MPP Daiene Vernile joins cabinet, McGarry shuffled to transportation
Move comes five months ahead of provincial election in June
Kitchener Centre MPP Daiene Vernile has a new job at Queen's Park — as the new minister of tourism, culture and sport.
Premier Kathleen Wynne shuffled her cabinet Wednesday, five months before the provincial election on June 7.
This is the first time Vernile has served as a cabinet minister. She was previously a parliamentary assistant for both the Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Research Innovation and Science.
Vernile said she was "honoured and humbled" to join the cabinet.
"Culture and the arts, tourism and sports not only help us to celebrate who we are as Ontarians, but these sectors employ thousands of hard working people," she said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Cambridge MPP Kathryn McGarry has moved from her role as minister of natural resources and forestry to the transportation portfolio.
New ministers <a href="https://twitter.com/ndesrosiers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ndesrosiers</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DaieneVernile?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DaieneVernile</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Harindermalhi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Harindermalhi</a> taking the oath, including swearing to uphold cabinet secrecy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/onpoli?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#onpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/bAjbElJ7ve">pic.twitter.com/bAjbElJ7ve</a>
—@CBCQueensParkThe move comes after three high-profile cabinet ministers said they won't run in this spring's election, including Guelph MPP, and now former Treasury Board president, Liz Sandals and former health care minister Deb Matthews who is the MPP for London North Centre.
McGarry issued a statement also saying she's "honoured" to be in the new role.
"Transportation plays a fundamental role in the day-to-day lives of the people of Ontario and I am eager to get to work making sure our province continues to get the highways, roads and public transit it needs," she said.