QUEEN'S PARK -- Michael Gravelle says it's good to be back.
The MPP representing Thunder Bay-Superior North with the governing Liberal party was renamed Minister of Northern Development and Mines Tuesday afternoon.
"I'm absolutely thrilled that Premier Wynne has shown such confidence in me," he said.
He's eager to get back to work as soon as possible on the portfolio to keep work on the Ring of Fire, Northern highways and other economic development opportunities going. Gravelle said he's going to meet with staff as soon as possible.
"To continue to do the work to seize those opportunities it's certainly something I'm very excited about," he said.
And he'll have a Northern partner with MPP Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay- Atikokan) taking over as Minister of Natural Resources, which now includes forestry in the portfolio. Gravelle said he's looking forward to working with Mauro, who was formerly the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
"To have my colleague across town as the Minister of Natural Resources is just tremendous," he said.
Mayor Keith Hobbs said it's good news for Thunder Bay and the region to have the MPPs in those positions.
"It's phenomenal. It covers all the bases," he said. "I can't see anything bad out of that cabinet."
