Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson will continue to sit as a member of Provincial Parliament, but the Premier's office has announced Wilson has resigned from the PC caucus and his Minister roles.
A statement sent out from the Premier’s office after 6 p.m. tonight (Nov. 2) said Jim Wilson resigned from his cabinet position and from the Progressive Conservative caucus to seek treatment for addiction issues. Wilson was the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade in Ford's cabinet.
Simon Jefferies, a spokesperson for Premier Doug Ford sent out the statement.
In an email to CollingwoodToday, Jefferies said Wilson would continue to sit as a member of Provincial Parliament, but not as a member of the PC caucus. It is not yet clear if that means Wilson will be an independent MPP.
According to Jefferies’ statement, MPP Todd Smith will take over as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade on an interim basis. Smith is the MPP for Bay of Quinte and is the Minister of Government and Consumer Services as well as Government House Leader.
Jim Wilson has been the Simcoe-Grey member of provincial parliament since September 1990. Since then, he has been the Minister of Health; Minister of Energy; Science, and Technology; Minister of Northern Development and Mines; and Minister of the Environment.
After Tim Hudak resigned as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 2014, Wilson stepped into the role on an interim basis and became the official opposition leader.
Wilson was born and raised in Alliston and currently lives in Wasaga Beach. He was re-elected with 34,094 votes (56 per cent) in the 2018 provincial election this June, which was about 20,000 votes ahead of second-place finisher David Matthews (NDP).
Wilson was photographed in Sarnia earlier today to unveil the new Open for Business signs alongside Premier Doug Ford.
