Monte McNaughton 3rd minister to leave Premier Ford cabinet in recent weeks

Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton says he is leaving provincial politics to take a job in the private sector — the third minister to leave the Ford cabinet in recent weeks.

McNaughton, who has represented the riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex since 2011, has served as minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development since 2019.

“It is always difficult to know the right time to leave politics. After much soul searching over the summer months, I have accepted a job in the private sector,” McNaughton said in a statement.

“I have spoken with Premier Ford to let him know that I am stepping down from my cabinet duties immediately and will be resigning my seat in the days ahead. I will not be seeking re-election.”

The labour minister’s departure will force Ford to shuffle his cabinet for the second time in two weeks. Details of the shuffle are expected at some point on Friday.

Ahead of McNaughton’s statement, Premier Doug Ford announced the departure of his labour minister.

“After serving the province of Ontario and the people of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex for the last 12 years, Minister McNaughton has informed me that he’s stepping away from public life to take on an exciting opportunity in the private sector. He made this decision based on what is best for him and his family at this point in his life and career,” Ford said in a statement.

“Whether tackling Ontario’s generational labour shortage, connecting workers to better jobs with bigger paycheques, or breaking the stigma of skilled trades, Monte has been instrumental in our government’s plan to put workers at the centre of Ontario’s economy and unprecedented growth.”

While McNaughton’s department comes amid the government’s ongoing Greenbelt scandal, he says that is not the case, and expresses his support of Ford and his government.

“Recent events will cause some to speculate about the reasons for my departure. I want those people to know that my decision is completely unrelated to those events,” McNaughton said in his statement.

“I support Premier Ford and am proud to have served in his cabinet […] I believe strongly in his team and its vision. I know they will continue to do great things for the people of this province. I’m making this decision because it’s the right one for me and my family.”

Earlier this month, Ford shuffled his cabinet hours after his embattled housing minister, Steve Clark, stepped down from his post, to be replaced with Paul Calandra, who was the long-term care minister.

Clark resigned after a scathing report from the province’s integrity commissioner found he violated ethics rules when Ontario opened up parts of the protected Greenbelt for development.

The Ford government has been under fire for months over its decision to open up parts of the Greenbelt for housing development.

However, in an about-face on Friday, Ford announced he is reversing his government’s controversial plan, calling it a mistake. He said he made a promise to the people of Ontario not to touch the Greenbelt, and that he broke that promise.

The Greenbelt scandal also led to the resignation of another cabinet minister earlier this week. MPP Kaleed Rasheed, who was Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario, stepped down after questions surrounding a trip he took to Las Vegas at the same time as a developer who owns land that was removed from the Greenbelt.

With files from CityNews staff and The Canadian Press