Premier’s Statement on Resignation of Minister Eric Hoskins

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne released the following statement today:

Today I accepted Minister Eric Hoskins’ resignation as Ontario’s Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, as well as MPP for St. Paul’s.

“I am so grateful for the work Eric has done to continue improving Ontario’s world-class health care system to better support patients and their families. Eric has always been one of the most vocal advocates for our universal health care system and has played an active role in lowering surgical wait times across Ontario, increasing access to primary care providers, including family doctors, expanding the availability of services for people with mental illnesses and building new hospitals in communities across the province. He has also been instrumental in making sure Ontario is leading the effort to expand our system with historic initiatives like OHIP+, which has made prescription drugs free for everyone under the age of 25. There is much more work to do, and I know Eric will look forward to telling you about how he will be involved.

In the meantime, I am pleased that Dr. Helena Jaczek has agreed to take over as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, effective immediately. The experience she brings to this role as a former physician with Women’s College Hospital in Toronto and former Chief Medical Officer of Health for York Region will ensure that our government can seamlessly move forward with the important investments we are making and the work we are doing in health care right across the province. Minister Jaczek will continue in her role as Chair of Cabinet.

Also effective immediately, Michael Coteau will become Minister of Community and Social Services, while maintaining his role as Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism. I thank both Ministers Jaczek and Coteau for stepping into these new roles, and I am confident they will continue to serve the people of Ontario with care, intelligence and compassion.”