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Ford’s cabinet is also a good mixture of experienced MPPs led by Vic Fedeli, a wise choice for the key finance portfolio given his many years as an effective critic of that ministry when the Liberals were in power, and promising rookies like Rod Phillips, in the tough environment portfolio.

Symbolic of his intent to respect taxpayers’ money, Ford’s cabinet, including himself, has 21 members, significantly smaller than the 29 in former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne’s cabinet before her government was defeated on June 7.

One-third of the portfolios went to women and, while there is only one member of a visible minority — Raymond Cho as minister for seniors and accessibility — a number of rookie Tory MPPs representing Ontario’s diverse population were named as parliamentary assistants, essentially the training ground for future cabinet ministers.

Ford, who represents Etobicoke North, can not be accused of creating a Toronto-centric cabinet, since the only members from Toronto are himself and Cho, representing Scarborough North.

Finally, Ford struck the right notes in his first speech as premier after being sworn in before 2,000 supporters outside the Legislature, describing himself as “truly humbled” by the trust Ontarians had put in him.

He also reached out to those who supported other parties.

“For those who did not vote for us, all I ask is a chance to show you that life will be better with a government that is for all the people, that life will be more affordable, that we can stand united as a province,” Ford said.

He was conciliatory to his political opponents, saying that to solve Ontario’s problems, “We must cross party lines. We must put aside political differences no matter if it’s red, blue, green or orange” to make life better for all Ontarians.

For his first day on the job, Ford did well.

Now, the much harder work of governing begins.