New environment minister for Ontario: Todd McCarthy

Yesterday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled his cabinet with an experienced team that will deliver on the government’s mandate to do whatever is necessary to protect Ontario in the face of tariffs from the United States, while building a stronger, more competitive and resilient economy.

“As Ontario faces one of the greatest challenges in our history, workers and families are counting on us to stand up for their jobs and wellbeing,” said Ford. “Our government will double down on our plan to build, train and reskill workers for better jobs and bigger paycheques, tear down internal trade barriers, retool companies for new customers in new markets, attract more investments and cut through red tape to develop our vast natural resources, including critical minerals in the Ring of Fire. No matter what, we will protect Ontario.”

Ontario’s new Executive Council appoints Todd McCarthy as the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Andrea Khanjin moves to the Ministry of Red Tape Reduction.

To effectively deliver on its plan to protect Ontario, the government is also making changes to certain ministries’ areas of authority and responsibilities:

• The Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will now have responsibility over conservation authorities
• The Minister of Energy and Mines and the Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries will now have responsibility over broadband expansion and connectivity

McCarthy is a well-respected and established lawyer in Durham and across Ontario. He is the senior partner at Flaherty McCarthy LLP, and also served part-time as a Deputy Judge presiding over Small Claims Court cases at the Durham Region Courthouse, and was President of the Durham Region Law Association. He also served as a Trustee and Vice Chair of the Durham Catholic District School Board.

In his spare time, McCarthy coached and sponsored minor hockey teams, and taught as an Adjunct Professor at both Queen’s University Faculty of Law and the Durham College Faculty of Justice and Emergency Services. He is also a founding donor and supporter of the Durham Abilities Centre.

In his previous post as Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, McCarthy oversaw the delivery of vital programs, services, and products both in-person and online to Ontarians through ServiceOntario. In his role, he also managed consumer protection laws in the province, leading Ontario’s efforts in the development of public policy around groundbreaking technologies like AI, and innovates new ways to make it easier to start and run a business in Ontario.

McCarthy is recognized for his achievements and was presented the Ontario Bar Association Insurance Law Award in 2021 and was the defence counsel Honouree of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association annual celebration of the Personal Injury Bar in 2019.

“It has been a privilege and honour to serve as Ontario’s Minister of Public Service Delivery and Procurement, working to improve efficiency and accessibility for the amazing people of this great province. I am grateful for the dedication of my staff, our public servants and the progress we have made together over the past few years,” said McCarthy. “I am excited for the opportunity to continue serving the hardworking people of Ontario, as our province’s next Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.”

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Featured image credits: Getty Images and Government of Ontario