NORTH BAY — Premier Doug Ford called Vic Fedeli his left and right hand man during his campaign just over a year ago.
As part of Thursday’s cabinet shuffle Fedeli had his Finance Minister portfolio switched to the less high profile cabinet position of Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
Premier Doug Ford says Fedeli did an ''incredible job'' in finance and after the successes of year one, the focus is on Health and Education, followed by job creation.
"There's no better salesperson on our team than Vic Fedeli. He started his own company, he was very successful and he's the best salesperson we have, he's going to be bringing more jobs to Ontario," Ford told reporters at Queen's Park.
Ford says the province is "a thousand times better off" then it was a year ago when it comes to their finances.
He says they're now putting the right people in the right place at the right time.
"Nothing outside of health and education is more important than economic development and job creation, and I can't ask for a better person than Vic to get out there and represent our province, and invite more companies around the world to come in here and open up shop," Ford says.
Meantime in a release Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli says he is looking forward to rolling up his sleeves and getting down to work selling Ontario worldwide as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
Fedeli plans to leverage his years of business experience to promote the province internationally and create more jobs here at home.
“As a lifelong entrepreneur, I travelled to a hundred countries, and have great experience with international business leaders. I will continue to establish partnerships, with a goal of growing and expanding Ontario businesses,” said Fedeli in the release.
“It’s that experience that I will now put to use for all the people of Ontario, especially Northern Ontario and here in Nipissing.”
Meantime Opposition leader Andrea Horwath went to twitter and defended Fedeli and some of the other cabinet ministers who were shuffled today.
“Instead of changing direction, Ford is throwing his team under the bus for decisions he made,” said Horwath via Twitter.
“Ford decided teachers would be fired. Ford cut autism support. Ford cut OSAP, legal aid, mental health and so much more.”