The Ministry of Energy’s 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. The Minister of Energy is the Honourable Todd Smith.
| Ministère de l’Énergie (French) | |
| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2002 |
| Preceding Ministry |
|
| Jurisdiction | Government of Ontario |
| Ministers responsible |
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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]
Responsibilities
Several agencies and crown corporations are under the Ministry:
- Hydro One 1999–present; created from the breakup of Ontario Hydro
- Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) 1998–present; created from the breakup of Ontario Hydro
- Ontario Power Authority 2004–2015; now merged with IESO; created from the breakup of Ontario Hydro
- Ontario Energy Board 1999–present; created from the breakup of Ontario Hydro
- Ontario Power Generation (OPG) 1999–present; created from the breakup of Ontario Hydro
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:
- Sir Adam Beck 1906–1925 -referred to as Minister of Power
- John Robert Cooke 1931–1934
- Robert H. Saunders 1948–1953
- George E Gathercole 1962–1974
History
The Department of Energy Resources was established by legislation in 1959.[3] 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,[4] 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:
- Between 1993 and 1997, the ministry was amalgamated with the Ministry of the Environment to form the Ministry of Environment and Energy
- Between 1997 and 2002, the ministry took on responsibility for Science and Technology and was known as the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology.
- Between April and August 2002, the ministry was again briefly merged with Ministry of the Environment to form the Ministry of Environment and Energy
- Between 2008 and 2010, the ministry was merged with the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal to form the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
- Between 2018 and 2021, the ministry was merged with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines to form the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines
List of ministers
| Name | Term of office | Tenure | Political party (Ministry) | Note | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister of Energy Resources | ||||||
| Robert Macaulay | May 5, 1959 | November 8, 1961 | 4 years, 164 days | PC (Frost) | ||
| November 8, 1961 | October 16, 1963 | PC (Robarts) | ||||
| John Richard Simonett | October 16, 1963 | March 25, 1964 | 5 years, 232 days | |||
| Minister of Energy Resource and Management | ||||||
| John Richard Simonett | March 26, 1964 | June 5, 1969 | ||||
| George Albert Kerr | June 5, 1969 | March 1, 1971 | 2 years, 48 days | |||
| March 1, 1971 | July 23, 1971 | PC (Davis) | ||||
| Minister of Energy | ||||||
| Darcy McKeough | July 4, 1973 | June 18, 1975 | 1 year, 349 days | |||
| Dennis Timbrell | June 18, 1975 | February 3, 1977 | 1 year, 230 days | |||
| James Taylor | February 3, 1977 | January 21, 1978 | 352 days | |||
| Reuben Baetz | January 21, 1978 | August 18, 1978 | 209 days | |||
| James Auld | August 18, 1978 | August 30, 1979 | 1 year, 12 days | Concurrently Minister of Natural Resources | ||
| Bob Welch | August 30, 1979 | July 6, 1983 | 3 years, 310 days | While Deputy Premier | ||
| Philip Andrewes | July 6, 1983 | February 8, 1985 | 1 year, 217 days | |||
| George Ashe | February 8, 1985 | May 17, 1985 | 98 days | PC (Miller) | ||
| Mike Harris | May 17, 1985 | June 26, 1985 | 40 days | Concurrently Minister of Natural Resources | ||
| Vince Kerrio | June 26, 1985 | September 29, 1987 | 2 years, 95 days | Liberal (Peterson) | Concurrently Minister of Natural Resources | |
| Bob Wong | September 29, 1987 | August 2, 1989 | 1 year, 307 days | |||
| Lyn McLeod | August 2, 1989 | October 1, 1990 | 1 year, 60 days | Concurrently Minister of Natural Resources | ||
| Jenny Carter | October 1, 1990 | July 31, 1991 | 303 days | NDP (Rae) | ||
| Will Ferguson | July 31, 1991 | February 13, 1992 | 197 days | |||
| Brian Charlton | February 14, 1992 | February 3, 1993 | 355 days | Interim minister prior to September 23, 1992 | ||
| Minister of Environment and Energy | ||||||
| Bud Wildman | February 3, 1993 | June 26, 1995 | 2 years, 143 days | |||
| Brenda Elliott | June 26, 1995 | August 16, 1996 | 1 year, 51 days | PC (Harris) | ||
| Norm Sterling | August 16, 1996 | October 10, 1997 | 1 year, 55 days | |||
| Minister of Energy, Science and Technology | ||||||
| Jim Wilson | October 10, 1997 | April 14, 2002 | 4 years, 186 days | |||
| Minister of Environment and Energy | ||||||
| Chris Stockwell | April 15, 2002 | August 22, 2002 | 129 days | PC (Eves) | ||
| Minister of Energy | ||||||
| John Baird | August 22, 2002 | October 22, 2003 | 1 year, 61 days | |||
| Dwight Duncan | October 23, 2003 | October 11, 2005 | 1 year, 353 days (first time) | Liberal (McGuinty) | While Government House Leader & Chair of Cabinet | |
| Donna Cansfield | October 11, 2005 | May 23, 2006 | 224 days | |||
| Dwight Duncan | May 23, 2006 | October 30, 2007 | 1 year, 160 days (second time, 3 years, 148 days in total) | While Chair of Cabinet | ||
| Gerry Phillips | October 30, 2007 | June 20, 2008 | 234 days (first time) | |||
| Minister of Energy and Infrastructure | ||||||
| George Smitherman | June 20, 2008 | November 9, 2009 | 1 year, 142 days | While Deputy Premier | ||
| Gerry Phillips | November 9, 2009 | January 18, 2010 | 70 days (second time, 304 days in total) | While Chair of Cabinet | ||
| Brad Duguid | January 18, 2010 | August 18, 2010 | 1 year, 275 days | |||
| Minister of Energy | ||||||
| Brad Duguid | August 18, 2010 | October 20, 2011 | ||||
| Chris Bentley | October 20, 2011 | February 11, 2013 | 1 year, 114 days | |||
| Bob Chiarelli | February 11, 2013 | June 13, 2016 | 3 years, 123 days | Liberal (Wynne) | ||
| Glenn Thibeault | June 13, 2016 | June 29, 2018 | 2 years, 16 days | |||
| Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines | PC (Ford) | |||||
| Greg Rickford | June 29, 2018 | June 18, 2021 | 2 years, 354 days | Concurrently 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, 2021 | incumbent | 2 years, 337 days | |||