A London New Democrat MPP is the new opposition house leader at Queen's Park.
The NDP announced London West MPP Peggy Sattler was appointed to the role in a shuffle of the shadow cabinet on Tuesday.
Sattler, who put forward a bill in December to legislate paid sick days in the province, will also take on the role of labour critic. That is in addition to her post as democratic reform critic.
First elected in London West in 2013 after spending 13 years as a public school board trustee, Sattler has previously served as the critic for economic development, education, and women’s issues.
London Fanshawe NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong was shuffled to the children and youth services critic portfolio, vacating her critic position in home care and long term care. She has been the NDP's long-term care critic since 2016. Armstrong is turning the chief party whip role over to Timiskaming–Cochrane MPP John Vanthof. Since being elected in 2011, Armstrong has also previously served as critic for seniors’ affairs and anti-racism directorate.
London North Centre MPP Terence Kernaghan, who is still in his first term, assumes the role of opposition critic for government services and consumer protection. That is in addition to his post as LGBTQ issues critic, which he has held since August 2018.
“I’m so thankful to these folks for stepping up and taking on the extra work in these critical roles,” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said in a statement. “I’m also incredibly grateful to the mentors who have excelled in these roles and are now helping others get up to speed quickly, including our incredibly knowledgeable and capable outgoing House Leader Gilles Bisson; outgoing caucus Chair Mike Mantha, who has done a wonderful job; and outgoing Chief Whip Teresa Armstrong, who has been a phenomenal team organizer."
