Two Midwestern Ontario MPPs are taking on more responsibility at Queen's Park.
Premier Doug Ford unveiled his new roster of parliamentary assistants on Monday. Among them are Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae and Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Paul Vickers.
Rae will continue to serve as Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and will also serve as Chief Government Whip, a position that plays a central role in maintaining party discipline and communication within the Progressive Conservative caucus. The appointment makes the 34-year-old Rae the second-youngest MPP in Ontario history to hold the influential role after Former MPP John Baird, who served as Chief Government Whip at the age of 33 in 2022.
"I look forward to serving the people of Ontario and our government in these roles, in addition to my responsibilities as MPP for Perth–Wellington," said Rae. "I want to thank Premier Ford for the trust he has placed in me."
Vickers, a first-time MPP, has been appointed Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. His riding includes a large and diverse agricultural sector, and his background in agriculture will now have a more direct role in shaping provincial policies that impact local farmers and rural communities.
"Agriculture has been the passion of my life," said Vickers, who is serving his first term at Queen’s Park. "I am very excited for this opportunity to advocate for Ontario’s farmers and agri-businesses." Vickers currently operates his family’s third-generation dairy farm and has held leadership positions with Gay Lea Foods Co-operative and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. He was particularly active during the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing for provincial support for producers facing supply chain challenges and disruptions.
As Parliamentary Assistant, Vickers will support Minister Trevor Jones in advancing the ministry’s broad mandate, which includes promoting growth in Ontario’s agrifood sector, providing business supports to farmers, and ensuring agricultural sustainability through research and innovation.
In a statement, Premier Ford said the new parliamentary assistant roles are meant to support cabinet ministers in executing the government’s agenda amid growing economic uncertainty.
"Now more than ever, our team of parliamentary assistants is ready to support our government’s mandate to protect Ontario and build a stronger and more competitive economy that can withstand whatever comes our way," Ford said.
Also included in the reshuffle is Sarnia-Lambton MPP Robert Bailey, who has been named Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Rural Affairs, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson. Bailey’s role will support policy development focused on rural infrastructure, services, and economic sustainability, at a time when rural communities are being challenged by inflation and supply chain concerns.
The announcement comes as Ontario prepares to navigate the fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s so-called “reciprocal” tariffs, which have already triggered market volatility and prompted concerns about trade disruptions and inflation. Ford has promised to shield Ontario businesses from the worst effects of the tariffs, including through a six-month deferral of select provincial taxes and a multi-billion-dollar rebate program through the WSIB.
The Ontario Legislature is scheduled to resume on Monday, April 14, 2025 with the Speech from the Throne, where the government is expected to lay out its legislative priorities for the months ahead.