Ministry of Energy (Ontario)

Last updated
Ministry of Energy and Mines
Ministère de l’Énergie et des Mines (French)
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Arms of the Government of Ontario
Ministry overview
Formed2002
Preceding Ministry
  • Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology
Jurisdiction Government of Ontario
Ministers responsible
  • Hon. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification
  • Dave Smith, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines with responsibility for Energy

The Ministry of Energy and Mines' responsibility is ensuring that Ontario's electricity system functions with reliability and productivity, and promoting innovation in the energy sector. In April 2002, it was renamed the Ministry of Energy, with the newly created Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation taking over responsibility for its science and technology portfolio. [1] It was integrated as the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure between 2007 and 2010, before it was split back into the Ministry of Energy on August 18, 2010. Since June 6, 2024, The Minister of Energy is the Honourable Stephen Lecce.

Contents

In 2021, the Ministry of Energy again became a separate ministry when the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines merged with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to form the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. [2] In 2025, the Ministry was merged with the Ministry of Mines. [3]

Responsibilities

Several agencies and crown corporations are under the Ministry:

From 1974 to 1999 Ontario Hydro reported to the Minister, but the public utility was broken up into various agencies and crown corporations. Prior to 1974 Ontario Hydro reported to Commissioners appointed by the Premier and a few were Ministers without Portfolio.

The Commission was headed by a Chairman:

History

The Department of Energy Resources was established by legislation in 1959. [4] The Ontario Fuel Board was also attached to the department until 1960. When the board was dissolved in 1960, its administrative functions were assumed by the department, while its judicial functions were taken over by the Ontario Energy Board.

In 1964, the department acquired responsibility over the conservation authorities from the Department of Lands and Forests, and was renamed the Department of Energy and Resources Management.

In 1970, the energy responsibilities of the department, including the Ontario Energy Board, were removed and transferred to the Department of Mines and Northern Affairs. The remaining responsibilities over conservation, air management and waste manager form the new Department of the Environment in 1971.

In 1973, the Ministry of Energy was re-established, [5] assuming responsibilities over energy policy; energy conservation and planning; and energy technology development. Agencies which reported to the ministry included the Ontario Energy Board, the Ontario Energy Corporation, and Ontario Hydro.

Over the years, the ministry was merged with various other ministries:

List of ministers

NameTerm of officeTenurePolitical party
(Ministry)		Note
Minister of Energy Resources PC
(Frost)
Robert Macaulay May 5, 1959November 8, 19614 years, 164 days
November 8, 1961October 16, 1963 PC
(Robarts)
John Richard Simonett October 16, 1963March 25, 19645 years, 232 days
Minister of Energy Resource and Management
John Richard Simonett March 26, 1964June 5, 1969
George Albert Kerr June 5, 1969March 1, 19712 years, 48 days
March 1, 1971July 23, 1971 PC
(Davis)
Minister of Energy
Darcy McKeough July 4, 1973June 18, 19751 year, 349 days
Dennis Timbrell June 18, 1975February 3, 19771 year, 230 days
James Taylor February 3, 1977January 21, 1978352 days
Reuben Baetz January 21, 1978August 18, 1978209 days
James Auld August 18, 1978August 30, 19791 year, 12 daysConcurrently Minister of Natural Resources
Bob Welch August 30, 1979July 6, 19833 years, 310 daysWhile Deputy Premier
Philip Andrewes July 6, 1983February 8, 19851 year, 217 days
George Ashe February 8, 1985May 17, 198598 days PC
(Miller)
Mike Harris May 17, 1985June 26, 198540 daysConcurrently Minister of Natural Resources
Vince Kerrio June 26, 1985September 29, 19872 years, 95 days Liberal
(Peterson)		Concurrently Minister of Natural Resources
Bob Wong September 29, 1987August 2, 19891 year, 307 days
Lyn McLeod August 2, 1989October 1, 19901 year, 60 daysConcurrently Minister of Natural Resources
Jenny Carter October 1, 1990July 31, 1991303 days NDP
(Rae)
Will Ferguson July 31, 1991February 13, 1992197 days
Brian Charlton February 14, 1992February 3, 1993355 daysInterim minister prior to September 23, 1992
Minister of Environment and Energy
Bud Wildman February 3, 1993June 26, 19952 years, 143 days
Brenda Elliott June 26, 1995August 16, 19961 year, 51 days PC
(Harris)
Norm Sterling August 16, 1996October 10, 19971 year, 55 days
Minister of Energy, Science and Technology
Jim Wilson October 10, 1997April 14, 20024 years, 186 days
Minister of Environment and Energy
Chris Stockwell April 15, 2002August 22, 2002129 days PC
(Eves)
Minister of Energy
John Baird August 22, 2002October 22, 20031 year, 61 days
Dwight Duncan October 23, 2003October 11, 20051 year, 353 days
(first time)		 Liberal
(McGuinty)		While Government House Leader & Chair of Cabinet
Donna Cansfield October 11, 2005May 23, 2006224 days
Dwight Duncan May 23, 2006October 30, 20071 year, 160 days
(second time, 3 years, 148 days in total)		While Chair of Cabinet
Gerry Phillips October 30, 2007June 20, 2008234 days
(first time)
Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
George Smitherman June 20, 2008November 9, 20091 year, 142 daysWhile Deputy Premier
Gerry Phillips November 9, 2009January 18, 201070 days
(second time, 304 days in total)		While Chair of Cabinet
Brad Duguid January 18, 2010August 18, 20101 year, 275 days
Minister of Energy
Brad Duguid August 18, 2010October 20, 2011
Chris Bentley October 20, 2011February 11, 20131 year, 114 days
Bob Chiarelli February 11, 2013June 13, 20163 years, 123 days Liberal
(Wynne)
Glenn Thibeault June 13, 2016June 29, 20182 years, 16 days
Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines PC
(Ford)
Greg Rickford June 29, 2018June 18, 20212 years, 354 daysConcurrently Minister of Indigenous Affairs. Bill Walker served as Associate Minister of Energy from June 20, 2019 to June 18, 2021
Minister of Energy
Todd Smith June 18, 2021June 6, 20244 years, 117 days
Stephen Lecce June 6, 2024Incumbent1 year, 129 days Sam Oosterhoff is Associate Minister for Energy-Intensive Industries

References

  1. ↑ "Eves' picks raise fears of deficits, Tories say". National Post, 16 April 2002.
  2. ↑ "Ministries". www.ontario.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  3. ↑ Callan, Issac; D'Mello, Collin (March 19, 2025). "Ontario Premier Doug Ford's new cabinet unveiled with changes in major portfolios". Global News. corus. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  4. ↑ Department of Energy Resources Act, Statutes of Ontario 1959, Chap. 26
  5. ↑ The Ministry of Energy Act, Statutes of Ontario 1973, Chap. 56
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