Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is criticizing Ontario Premier Doug Ford for once again expanding the size of the provincial cabinet with his Labour Day cabinet shuffle.

“Ontario Premier Doug Ford just named the largest and most expensive cabinet in Ontario history,” said CTF Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. “Ford’s cabinet now has a record 31 members, an increase of 10 members since Ford became premier five years ago. As Ontarians face soaring living costs, the last thing taxpayers want to do is pay for an even more bloated provincial government.” 

On Sept. 4, Ford shuffled his cabinet after former municipal affairs and housing minister Steve Clark announced his resignation. Ford changed the positions of several ministers and added two new members to his cabinet.

“Ford should have used this shuffle as an opportunity to streamline government and bring the size of his bloated cabinet back down to earth,” Goldberg said. “Instead, he’s made his cabinet even bigger and is sticking hardworking Ontarians with the bill.”

Cabinet ministers in Ontario receive $165,000 in salary, which is 42 per cent more than a base MPP salary of $116,550. If Ford’s cabinet still had just 21 members, Ontario taxpayers would be saving nearly $500,000 on additional ministerial salary alone.