TORONTO - Less than one year after splitting Ontario's Economic Development and Trade ministries to better focus on the economy, Premier Dalton McGuinty reunited the two ministries for the same reason Wednesday in a minor cabinet shuffle.
"All the changes announced today will help sharpen our economic focus and help our government deliver on its plan for a better, more competitive Ontario," McGuinty said as he altered the duties of six cabinet ministers.
Sandra Pupatello spent the past nine months travelling the world as economic development minister, trying to drum up business for Ontario, and now it's time to bring her back to head a reunited ministry with trade and small business, McGuinty told reporters.
"We had a number of irons in the fire and now it's a matter of pulling them out of the fire and closing some deals," he said.
"It's best done through one, single ministry."
McGuinty angered the opposition parties by failing to remove David Caplan as health minister as part of the shuffle, something the Conservatives and New Democrats have been demanding for weeks because of a spending scandal at eHealth Ontario.
"The leadership we were looking for was to make that move (on Caplan) and he didn't make it," said New Democrat Leader Andrea Horwath. "I think it shows an arrogance that's unbelievable on the part of the premier."
McGuinty defended Caplan's leadership, and said the minister would still be in the portfolio when the legislature resumes sitting in the fall.
The Progressive Conservatives said that means the scandal over $5 million in untendered contracts awarded by eHealth in just a few months will still be an issue, despite the resignations of the agency's CEO and its chairman.
"It's disappointing that he hasn't moved Caplan, but from a political perspective it's probably better for us because it sends out all the wrong messages about this government and the culture of entitlement," said Interim Opposition Leader Bob Runciman.
"There's been no elected official held accountable here."
McGuinty last week offered an apology and personally accepted responsibility for the eHealth scandal, which also saw consultants billing taxpayers for beverages and snacks on top of $2,700-a-day fees, but the premier's statement didn't impress the Tories.
"If you're the guy responsible, you should be making sure the minister who has day to day oversight is out of a job," Runciman said.
As for the shuffle, McGuinty did not promote or demote anyone from the cabinet table and simply realigned several ministries.
He separated the Revenue Ministry from Finance for the second time since he's been premier and appointed John Wilkinson as the minister responsible for implementing the single 13 per cent sales tax that takes effect next year.
Wilkinson insisted he wasn't worried about having to sell such a controversial tax to Ontario residents, insisting people will support it once they realize the government is also cutting personal income taxes.
"What we need to do is implement and communicate," Wilkinson said about the package of tax changes. "When I get to tell them the whole story, they seem to find it much more acceptable."
In other changes, John Milloy stays as minister of training, colleges and universities, but takes on double duty by also becoming minister of research and innovation.
Michael Gravelle adds forestry, which had previously been under the Ministry of Natural Resources, to his Northern Development and Mines Ministry.
Government Services Minister Ted McMeekin will swap jobs with Harinder Takhar, which means he'll take over a downsized Consumer Services Ministry.
