Sault MP Ross Romano was not appointed to the cabinet of Prime Minister Doug Ford for the next session of the Ontario legislature, but will play a critical role as government leader.
Although Sault Ste. Marie’s member of the provincial parliament no longer holds a cabinet post at Queen’s Park, Ross Romano says he has been appointed government leader.
Romano recently served as the province’s Minister of Government and Consumer Services under Ontario’s previous PC government. His name was remarkably absent when Prime Minister Doug Ford announced new cabinet ministers and parliamentary assistant posts ahead of the next session of the legislature.
In a telephone interview on Thursday, Romano said he had been asked to take over as government leader. Romano will replace Lorne Coe, who will act as the prime minister’s parliamentary assistant.
“Right now there’s a bit of internal debate about whether I’ll have a busier schedule or a lighter schedule,” Romano said. “I am very honored that the Prime Minister has thought it appropriate for him to take up this post and I am happy to help because that is how we will move forward in the next four years to do so.”
The government leader has a number of duties in the legislature, including the assignment and scheduling of committees, those responsible for disciplinary action by members, those responsible for the allocation of seats in Queen’s Park, and helping members move legislation. individuals, to name just a few.
“When you think about having an 83-person caucus, that’s a very large group of people to manage,” Romano said.
A particular aspect of the role Romano hopes will be to help the 28 new members of the Ontario PC get acclimated to their new positions.
“They will need a lot of help with the transition and to understand the process. After all, this is up to the head of government to be able to help these members overcome it and work to bring together 83 members to move forward on our agenda. government, ”Romano said.
He admits it was a challenge when he was informed of the news that he would not return as a minister, but said that the more he heard about the post of government leader, the more he knew he could intervene and help.
“I’m exceptionally excited,” Romano said.
Prior to his time in charge of Government and Consumer Services, Romano was Minister of Colleges and Universities in the province.
“Having gone through the process of being a cabinet minister and recognizing how few people in history have come to serve as cabinet ministers, just looking at the total number of MPs ever elected in Ontario’s history is actually little more than a couple of thousands, and when you look at the total number of cabinet members, there are only a couple of hundred, “Romano said. “It is a privilege and an honor to serve in this capacity.”