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July 11 - July 18, 2004 |
The Dawn of the McGuinty Era
Sorbara, Pupatello and Cordiano among Italian Canadians in Ontario's new cabinet
By Angelo Persichilli
Originally Published: 2003-11-02
Dalton McGuinty has become Ontario's 24th Premier. He was sworn in by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, immediately getting to work "to make Ontario a Province that the whole world will envy." His first announcement was to freeze car insurance fees.
As had been announced, the cabinet includes 23 components. In his speech after the swearing-in ceremony, McGuinty sent a message for 'reconciliation,' declaring his will to work with all social instances, "to defuse the existing tension."
The greatest concern is, of course, the economy of the Province, but especially the coffers of the Government. McGuinty said he expects a deficit to the tune of $4 billion, but declined to forecast precise figures. He asked former auditor Eric Peters to assess the situation and prepare a report within 10 days.
That report will mark the starting point for the new Finance Minister, Greg Sorbara. The Italian-Canadian MPP has been appointed to the most prestigious but most complicated post, where he must fulfil the electoral promises with what is available.
Contrary to rumours, the Ministry of Education went to Gerard Kennedy, the Ministry of Health to George Smitherman, while the new Attorney General is Michael Bryant.
McGuinty gave ample space to the Italian-Canadian community in his cabinet. For instance, Sorbara is Vice President of the powerful Priorities and Planning Board, chaired by McGuinty himself; Sandra Pupatello is Vice President of the Management Board of Cabinet, chaired by Gerry Phillips; Caroline di Cocco is President of the Board of Economic Affairs; and Domenic Agostino is President, with Michael Colle as Vice President, of Community Affairs.
The ceremony was attended by former Premiers Ernie Eves, Bob Rae, David Peterson, and Bill Davis. The audience also included Deputy PM John Manley and Elinor Caplan, who watched her son David swear in as Minister for Public Infrastructures Renewal.
The NDP caucus was absent. Interviewed after the ceremony, NDP leader Howard Hampton told us he only attended "one swearing-in ceremony, and that was when I was being appointed minister." Hampton denied staging a protest against McGuinty's decision not to lower the number of MPPs required to be granted political party status in the Parliament. "Today belongs to the Government," remarked Hampton; "there will be another time for questioning them." Hampton also wondered why "some MPPs have not been promoted. For instance, why is Mike Colle not in? Maybe McGuinty is already thinking of flip-flopping on the Oak Ridges Moraine?"
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