Ottawa MPP Lisa MacLeod out of Ford cabinet, taking break to address health
Former Ontario cabinet minister Lisa MacLeod has announced she is "temporarily taking a breather" from her position to address and improve her health, just hours after she was left out of Premier Doug Ford's new cabinet.
The Nepean MPP’s exclusion means there is only one cabinet minister from Ottawa in the new Progressive Conservative government. Kanata-Carleton MPP Merrilee Fullerton will remain the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services.
Ford and his new cabinet ministers were sworn-in at Queen's Park Friday morning, three weeks after winning a second consecutive majority mandate. There is no seat for MacLeod, the long-time MPP who won a sixth term at Queen's Park in the June 2 election.
In a statement shortly after the new cabinet was sworn in at Queen's Park, MacLeod said she is taking some time off to "address and improve my health."
"The last couple of years have been difficult for many people. I know I am not alone in this regard. In my case, my mental and physical health and well-being has been greatly impacted," MacLeod said on Twitter.
"While I love waking up every morning to work hard for the people of Nepean and Ontario now is the time to work on my healing. I need some time to rest and recuperate. This will be my focus over the next few months."
MacLeod thanked Premier Ford for his "support, his kindness and his faith" in her over the last few years, and wished support to the new cabinet.
In a message to her constituents in Nepean, MacLeod said they may not see much of her this summer "as I focus on healing."
"This is neither good-bye nor a route to another job. My focus for the next little while will not be on politics but rather on health and healing," MacLeod said. "While temporarily taking a breather is not a decision I have taken lightly, it is the right one to make now."
MacLeod served as the minister responsible for children, community and social services at the start of the Ford government's first term, before being shuffled to the minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Cultural Industries in 2019.
During the final week of the campaign, Ford expressed frustration with riding allowances for MPP from the local riding association.
MacLeod received $44,000 over three years as an MPP allowance from her riding.
Ford said during a campaign stop in Ottawa on May 30 that although the money was allowed, he was “frustrated” when he heard about it and wanted to see the practice ended.
On election night, MacLeod's campaign prohibited reporters from entering her campaign headquarters for her acceptance speech to supporters, and she did not take questions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.