MPPs Caroline Mulroney and Jim Wilson named to cabinet; Doug Downey and Andrea Khanjin named as parliamentary assistants

Two Simcoe County MPPs were appointed to Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative cabinet and sworn in on Friday afternoon during a ceremony on the front steps of the legislative building at Queen's Park.

Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson and York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney will both serve in appointed roles.

"We have an all-star team that's ready right now to give the people of Ontario the kind of leadership and direction they deserve," said Ford, in a release. "For too long, the people of Ontario have worked more and paid more, but gotten less. Those days are over. Help is here."

Mulroney, who ran as Ford’s rival in the PC leadership race earlier this year, will be serving as Attorney General and as minister for francophone affairs.

Prior to the election in an interview with Village Media, Mulroney said that if elected, her first priorities would be seeing the Highway 400-404 connecting link built, working on health care services that meet the needs of a growing community, and lowering taxes.

Wilson, a 28-year veteran MPP, was appointed as the minister of economic development, job creation and trade.

Wilson served in former PC leader Patrick Brown’s shadow cabinet as House Leader.

Ford also announced parliamentary assistant assignments on Friday, with two more Simcoe County MPPs making the cut.

Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey will be acting as the parliamentary assistant to the minister of finance and Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin will be acting as parliamentary assistant to the minister of the environment, conservation and parks.

"Our parliamentary assistants will each hold key accountabilities to ensure we deliver on the commitments we made to people, families and businesses across Ontario," said Ford.

While former Premier Kathleen Wynne had 28 cabinet members overseeing 30 different areas before her June 7 defeat, Ford streamlined and merge ministries into about 20 departments.