Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott will not seek re-election, sources say
Christine Elliott, one of the high-profile members of Premier Doug Ford's cabinet, will not be running in the provincial election in June, CTV News has learned.
Sources said Elliott, the Progressive Conservative MPP for Newmarket-Aurora, will announce she will not seek re-election on Friday.
Elliott has served as Ontario's health minister since 2018, overseeing the province's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elliott, who is also the deputy premier, is the latest notable PC MPP to leave Queen's Park. In January, Ajax MPP and Long-Term Care Minister Rod Phillips announced that he was resigning and won't seek re-election.
Political strategist Marcel Wieder said Elliott's pending departure is "earth-shattering" as she is considered one of the most trusted ministers of the Ford government.
"Christine Elliot was one of the most able ministers of the Ford government. She was the voice of reason. She was able to bring in a calming influence. She reassured people. She did everything textbook--wise that you would want in a minister in a crisis that we face, and now she's gone," Weider said.
"And who would be able to step in at this late stage to take over?"
Elliott was first elected to the provincial legislature in 2006 before resigning in 2015 following her second failed bid to become the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.
In 2018, in her third attempt to become the party leader, Elliott was beaten by Ford.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air turbulence: When can it become dangerous?
Flight turbulence like that encountered by a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday is extremely common, but there's one aspect of severe turbulence an aviation expert says can lead to serious injury.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
'Miscommunication' Liberals say of Speaker Fergus event invite Conservatives call partisan
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus is facing fresh Conservative-led calls to resign, this time over "very partisan" and 'inflammatory' language used – the Liberals say mistakenly – to promote an upcoming event.
'Mr. Trump doesn't worry us', says Canadian ambassador
As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continues the 'Team Canada' charm offensive to U.S. lawmakers and business leaders, Canada's ambassador to the United States downplayed the effect of another Trump presidency on Canada.