Caroline Mulroney to resign June 5, triggering York-Simcoe by-election

caroline mulroney will resign from Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet and from her seat in the Ontario legislature on June 5. The move will trigger a by-election in York-Simcoe and leave Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy to take over her Treasury Board role on an interim basis.

Mulroney announced the decision on Monday in a letter to constituents. She said, “Two years ago, I lost my father. Last year, my husband Andrew and I became empty nesters. These are the kinds of moments that clarify what matters” and “Together, they have led me to the conclusion that now is the right time to step back from elected life and begin a new chapter, one I am genuinely excited about.”

York-Simcoe and June 5

Her resignation takes effect after the Ontario legislature rises for the summer. That leaves York-Simcoe without its current MPP and adds to the number of by-elections the premier must call.

Ford will now have two by-elections to call, with the other vacant riding in Toronto’s Scarborough Southwest. That seat opened after former Ontario NDP deputy leader Doly Begum quit to run for the federal Liberals.

Ford and Mulroney

Mulroney has served in Ford’s cabinet for her entire eight years in elected office. She was first elected in 2018, when Ford won his initial majority government, and later served as Attorney-General, Transportation Minister and Minister of Francophone Affairs.

She also ran for leader of the Progressive Conservatives in 2018 and lost to Ford. During last year’s federal election, she endorsed federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

Etobicoke meeting

A source close to Mulroney said she spoke to Ford in person at his home in Etobicoke on Sunday before the announcement. Ford said Ontario has benefited from her “calm and steady leadership in cabinet” and that she leaves behind a record that she can be “immensely proud of.”

He said that record includes “funding for the largest expansion of public transit in North America” and “disciplined fiscal policies” that keep the economy competitive while investing in critical front-line services.

Mulroney’s departure removes one of the highest-profile members of Ford’s inner circle from cabinet. For York-Simcoe, the immediate change is clear: a by-election is coming, and the seat will not be filled by the same person who has held it since 2018.