Another Ontario cabinet minister is leaving the provincial legislature for municipal politics.
The Canadian Press reports that former minister Jim Watson will quit cabinet and resign as an Ontario MPP shortly to run for mayor of Ottawa. Watson joins former deputy premier George Smitherman, who recently left Queen’s Park to make a run for the mayor’s position in Toronto.
The premier is expected to shuffle his cabinet next week, which will replace both Smitherman and Watson.
Thunder Bay MPP Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay – Superior North) is currently the province’s minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. Thunder Bay – Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro does not have a cabinet position at this time.
McGuinty has called a byelection in Toronto centre for Feb. 4 to replace Smitherman.
Environment Minister John Gerretsen has been named Ontario’s new interim minister of municipal affairs and housing, which is the position Watson held before his recent resignation.
