Next steps in saving Ontario Tree Seed Plant

Ontario Tree Seed Plant stakeholders discuss next steps at meeting chaired by Fred Somerville of Somerville Nurseries, right. Among those present were, from left, Susan Antler, chair, Friends of the Utopia Mill & Park; Barb Boysen, general manager of the Forest Gene Conservation Association; Rob Keen, CEO of Forests Ontario and Dave Harbec of Somerville Nurseries.

From AWARE Essa

In the wake of the Progressive Conservative election victory, Ontario Tree Seed Plant stakeholders met Wednesday to discuss next steps. Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson, now minister of economic development, job creation, and trade, campaigned on a platform of stopping the Liberal plan to close the facility in September. His appointment to cabinet was announced this morning as new premier, Doug Ford, was sworn into office.

Full cabinet list:

Peter Bethlenfalvy – President of the Treasury Board
Raymond Cho – Minister for Seniors and Accessibility
Steve Clark – Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Christine Elliott – Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and Deputy Premier
Victor Fedeli – Minister of Finance and Chair of Cabinet
Doug Ford – Premier and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Merrilee Fullerton – Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
Ernie Hardeman – Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Sylvia Jones – Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Lisa MacLeod – Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues
Monte McNaughton – Minister of Infrastructure
Caroline Mulroney – Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
Rod Phillips – Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Greg Rickford – Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, and Minister of Indigenous Affairs
Laurie Scott – Minister of Labour
Todd Smith – Minister of Government and Consumer Services, and Government House Leader
Lisa Thompson – Minister of Education
Michael Tibollo – Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
Jim Wilson – Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
John Yakabuski – Minister of Transportation
Jeff Yurek – Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry