Ottawa still has no representation at the Ontario cabinet table

Lack of representation: When Doug Ford picked his new cabinet, there was hope it would include a representative from Ottawa. But with very few changes, Ontario’s second-largest city is still without a seat at the decision-making table.  

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe previously said he had high expectations and would have shared his thoughts with Ford if asked. Carleton’s George Darouze is the only PC MPP left in Ottawa after Nepean was lost to the Liberals in a stunning defeat.  

• “You want to have as many representatives within the government as possible. But at the same time, I think over the last two years we've had a very strong working relationship with the provincial government. We've gotten a lot done together,” said Sutcliffe, according to CBC. 

A full list of Ontario‘s cabinet ministers can be viewed here. 

The last time Ottawa had a representative in cabinet was Kanata-Carleton’s Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, who last served as the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. She held the position until her sudden resignation in March 2023. 

Opposition: In a statement, Ottawa South MPP John Fraser criticized Ford for ignoring Ottawa:

• “The residents of Ottawa, more than one million strong, have once again no one representing them at the Cabinet table. At the last election, the residents of Ottawa voted overwhelmingly to improve education and healthcare. Despite having a member of his Caucus from Ottawa, Doug Ford has deliberately passed over Ottawa again,” wrote Fraser. “Ottawa’s Ontario Liberal Caucus will continue to fight for the healthcare and education that people deserve.”

Resignation: Because he’s officially been sworn in as an MPP, Darouze had to resign from his role as councillor for Osgoode Ward. In a Facebook post he called it the “honour of a lifetime.”

• ”Every conversation, every challenge, and every triumph has shaped my time in office, and I am so incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together,” wrote Darouze. “One of the greatest joys of my role has been engaging with you—whether through Open Door Tuesdays, where we spoke face-to-face about your ideas and concerns, or through the Osgoode Ward Advisory Committee, where community leaders and stakeholders played an invaluable role in guiding decisions at City Hall. Your voices have been at the heart of everything I have done…”

Next steps: Darouze’s seat will not officially be declared vacant until the next council meeting on March 26. But until a new councillor is voted in, constituency work will be shared by Rideau-Jock Coun. David Brown and Orléans South-Navan Coun. Catherine Kitts, reported CityNews. 

Council has until May 25 — 60 days after the seat is vacated — to appoint a new representative or call a by-election. A memo from the city says: “To assist residents during the transition period, a dedicated [email protected] e-mail has been created and the Ward 20 Office remains staffed to address day-to-day constituency needs.”