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Premier Creates New Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship

 

SB Informer
Wednesday, May 24, 2006; 01:12 AM

QUEEN'S PARK, ON - Premier Dalton McGuinty has shuffled his Cabinet, welcoming back Vaughan-King-Aurora MPP Greg Sorbara as Minister of Finance and Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet, and re-assigning ministers Dwight Duncan, Donna Cansfield and Harinder Takhar in a shuffle that highlights the government's commitment to a strong economy.   

"Greg has always been on the side of hard-working Ontario families and businesses, and it's with great pleasure that we welcome him back to the Cabinet table to continue building a strong economy on their behalf," saidPremier McGuinty.   

Harinder Takhar leaves the Ministry of Transportation - where highlights of his work included such groundbreaking initiatives as protecting passengers through mandatory booster seat legislation and reforming the transit system through the Greater Toronto Transit Authority - to lead a new Ministry for Small Business and Entrepreneurship.   

"Small business accounts for approximately 40 per cent of employment in Ontario. Joe Cordiano has done a tremendous job of promoting and serving small business as Minister of Economic Development and Trade," McGuinty said. "We want to further highlight the importance of small business by dedicating a separate ministry to it, led by someone with extensive experience - Harinder Takhar."   

Joe Cordiano has been appointed to the Priorities and Planning Board of Cabinet.   

Dwight Duncan, who has been serving as Minister of Finance and Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet, regains his previous post as Minister of Energy. He resumes duties as Chair of Cabinet and continues to sit as a member of the Management Board of Cabinet.   

"Dwight has done a tremendous job in Finance, particularly in presenting our third budget, which will provide opportunity for Ontarians," McGuinty said.   

"His experience in Finance will serve us all well as the government makes important decisions on the future of Ontario's energy supply - decisions that are crucial to Ontario's future prosperity," the Premier said.   

"The foundation for these decisions has been enormously strengthened by the work Donna Cansfield has done in Energy, and I want to personally thank her, on behalf of all Ontarians, for the work she has done to keep the lights on, and Ontarians working, well into the future."   

Cansfield leaves Energy to become Minister of Transportation, leading a $4-billion ministry responsible for massive new investments in Ontario's roads, bridges and public transit.   

"Transportation stands at the centre of our plan to renew Ontario's infrastructure, which investors and employers have told me are critically important to Ontario's economy," McGuinty said.   

"The class shown by Greg in these recent months - combined with the talent and adaptability shown by our entire Cabinet - has made me proud of our team," he said.   

"I'm confident that the work our ministers and our caucus will do in the months ahead will further demonstrate that we are on the side of Ontario families and businesses - and we are working with them to strengthen the Ontario economy."

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