Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced Sept. 22 that George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, will serve as Deputy Premier.

"Minister Smitherman has helped our government make tremendous progress in bringing down wait times, ensuring we have more doctors and nurses and in protecting public health care," said McGuinty. "As Deputy Premier, he will provide leadership when my own duties take me away from the legislature."

Smitherman was first elected to the legislature in 1999 and was appointed Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in October 2003.

"It has been a tremendous privilege to serve my constituents as MPP and to serve the province as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care—and I'm grateful for this new opportunity to work on behalf of Ontarians as Deputy Premier," said Smitherman. "I look forward to communicating our government's progress in education, in health care and in building a strong economy."