Elliott, Mulroney expected to snag key cabinet posts in Ford government

WhenDoug Ford unveils his Ontario provincial governmentcabinet, it's expected to be much smaller than the current team assembled by Kathleen Wynne.

The current premierhad expanded the number of cabinet ministers to 30, but with Ford's focus on finding "efficiencies" in government, winnowing down the size of the cabinet may be one of his first acts.

"I wouldn't expect more than a dozen people," said Chad Rogers,a public affairsstrategistand founding partner at Crestview Strategy."I assume it's going to be really small. So that means we'll seeamalgamations of ministries."

Ford may have signalled who some of those people would be when he assembled a number of key candidates at an eventtwo weeks ago in Newmarket. Two of those candidates included former leadership hopefuls Christine Elliottand Caroline Mulroney.

But Ford,like any new leader figuring who gets the treasured cabinet posts, faces many of the same challenges, having to balance geography, age, experience, gender and diversity.

"I think where he's going to ultimately fall back on his cabinet picks will be people that actually have some experience around the legislature, because he doesn't have that himself," saidKate Harrison,a senior consultant at political consulting firm Summa Strategies in Ottawa.

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As well, Ford prizes loyalty, said Rogers, meaningthat those few caucus memberswho were the first support to him may be rewarded.

Here are some PCswhohave a good shot atbeing in cabinet:

Christine Elliott

If anyone's a shoo-in for cabinet, it's Elliott,the runner-up in the leadership campaign who actually won the popular vote.

Elliott's alawyer by trade andformer member of the legislaturewho will return to Queen's Park representing the riding of Newmarket-Aurora. She is expected to snag one of thehigh-profile cabinet positions.

Caroline Mulroney

A so-called "star candidate" who unsuccessfully vied for leadership of the party, Mulroney will be a rookie member of the legislature representing the Toronto riding ofYork-Simcoe. Like Elliott, she is alsoconsidered a shoo-in for cabinet.

"I think they see her as the rising star," said Tiffany Gooch, a political strategist at Enterprise Canada."So I think the ability to give her something to sink her teeth into and have her able to be a front face of the party, that looks forward facing."

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Goochsaid Ford will have to reward both Elliott and Mulroney, his two major opponents in the leadership race, with high-profile gigs.

"[They] are going to need to be two of the highest-ranking folks on the team," she said."I think that they're going to be very powerful folks in that cabinet."

VicFedeli

Fedeli, whoconsidered running in the leadership race but insteadtook over as interim leader following the ouster of Patrick Brown, could also find himself in cabinet.

Thosechances for the former mayor of North Bay and the member forNipissing may also be bolstered byFord's indicationhe would like to focus on the North and develop the Ring of Fire, said Harrison.

Peter Bethlenfalvy

Arookie member of the legislature who will representPickering-Uxbridge, Bethlenfalvymay not only score acabinet post, despite his lack of political experience, but be given the most plum role of all finance minister.Much of that would likely be due to his experience in the world of finance. He was a senior vice-president of Manulife Financial Corp. and president and chief operating officer of TD Securities (USA).

Rod Phillips

Also a rookie member of the legislature andstar candidate,Phillips, who will represent the Ajax riding, isconsidered a strong possibility for finance as well. Phillips has been CEO ofthe Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation andPostmedia.Initially, Phillips was rumouredto makinga run for the party leadership.Instead,he declined, throwing his support behind Mulroney.

Lisa MacLeod

A party stalwart and high-profile member of the legislature, MacLeod is one of the"automatics" for acabinet role, said Rogers.

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As well, said Harrison, the member forNepean is not afraid to level an attack from the front bench.

"I think she's pretty effective in kind of communicating rationale for or against pretty much anything," Harrison said."Reminds me a lot of John Baird on the front bench, of just being fiery, and that can rile people up."

Other considerations

If Ford does reward loyalty, then some other potential cabinet choices includeToby Barrett (Haldimand-Norfolk) and Raymond Cho(Scarborough North), who bothsupported Ford's bid for leadership.

Greg Rickford,a former lawyer, nurse andfederal cabinet minister in the Stephen Harper government, will be heading to Queen's Park representingKenora-RainyRiver, and may have a good shot for a cabinet position.

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