Premier-designate Doug Ford and his transition team are quietly and methodically putting together the first Progressive Conservative government at Queen’s Park in 15 years.Fresh from toppling Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals last Thursday, he and his top advisers are gearing up for the swearing in of the administration on June 29.Ford said his “biggest problem” will be whittling down his cabinet selections from the dozens of Tories elected around the province.“We have 75 incredible people to choose from and that’s going to be the toughest decision. We haven’t made that decision yet, but we will,” he said Sunday.Wynne’s departing cabinet, which will meet for the final time Wednesday, has 28 members presiding over 30 departments.Her successor has not yet determined how large his cabinet will be, but it is widely expected to be streamlined slightly with reconfigured ministries.While the incoming premier insisted he has not decided who will be on his executive council, he tipped his hand on May 28 when he showcased some of his star candidates at a roundtable in Newmarket.The Tory leader indicated that day his cabinet could include newly elected candidates Christine Elliott (Newmarket-Aurora), Rod Phillips (Ajax), Caroline Mulroney (York-Simcoe), Peter Bethlenfalvy (Pickering-Uxbridge), Greg Rickford (Kenora-Rainy River), Doug Downey (Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte), and Donna Skelly (Flamborough-Glanbrook).Ford also highlighted MPPs Lisa MacLeod (Nepean), Raymond Cho (Scarborough North), and Vic Fedeli (Nipissing), and he is known to be impressed by Todd Smith (Bay of Quinte), John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke) and Monte McNaughton (Lambton-Kent-Middlesex).Other veterans believed to be under consideration for cabinet include MPPs Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey), Steve Clark (Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands), Ross Romano (Sault Ste. Marie), and Sylvia Jones (Dufferin-Caledon).Because the Tories won 76 seats in ...
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