While he’s not running for premier, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan is feeling the effects of the provincial Liberal leadership race.
On Thursday, outgoing Premier Dalton McGuinty announced that Duncan will take on a new role as Minister of Government Services after yet another Ontario cabinet minister announced their resignation to run for the leadership of the party.
Mississauga Erindale MPP Harinder Takhar became the seventh contender in the race for premier.
“For several weeks I have consulted with people from every corner of this province to find out what renewal means to them,” Takhar said in a statement upon announcing his candidacy. “In conversations with these grass roots Ontarians it has become clear to me that the bulk of their concerns centre around their ability to provide opportunities for their families to succeed in these times of economic uncertainty.”
Duncan will take on Takhar’s former portfolio, which oversees ServiceOntario, while continuing his role as finance minister.
"I want to thank Harinder Takhar for his many contributions to our government over the last several years,” McGuinty said Thursday. “I also want to thank Dwight Duncan for taking on these additional responsibilities and for everything he’s doing to ensure we stay focused on delivering progress for Ontario families."
Also in the running for McGuinty’s job are former ministers Kathleen Wynne, Eric Hoskins, Charles Sousa, and Glen Murray – all who resigned from the cabinet to run in the Liberal leadership election. Former MP Gerard Kennedy and former MPP Sandra Pupatello are also vying for the position.
