Rickford to lead consolidated energy, mines, northern development and Indigenous affairs ministry

Northwestern Ontario will have a voice in Doug Ford's cabinet.

New Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford has been selected to lead a consolidated ministry that brings together the energy, mines, northern development and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.

Under the previous Liberal government those responsibilities had been divided between three individual ministries.

While Rickford is a newcomer to Queen's Park, he had previously served two terms as a federal MP for Kenora before falling in the 2015 election. His career in Ottawa included time as a member of former prime minister Stephen Harper's cabinet, briefly holding the natural resources title and minister of state for science and technology and FedNor.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation grand chief Alvin Fiddler issued a statement, insisting collapsing the Indigenous Affairs ministry into the other files sends a clear signal that improving relations with Indigenous people is not a priority for the new Progressive Conservative government.

"It is difficult to see how progress can continue to be made when our interests are reduced to only be of importance insofar as they relate to the government’s ability to access the resources within our lands," Fiddler said. 

"This government is advised that any effort to undermine the Treaty, ancestral or territorial rights of NAN First Nations will be decisively fought at both the political and legal levels. Our leaders are united in their resolve to protect and assert our rightful authority and jurisdiction over our homelands.”

The government announced that Rickford will have two parliamentary assistants. Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano will serve on the northern development and mines and Indigenous affairs files. Markham-Stouffville MPP Paul Calandra, a former federal colleague of Rickford, will handle energy.