By Billy Young l May 25, 2026
Ontario cabinet minister Caroline Mulroney has announced that she will resign from Premier Doug Ford’s government and step down from her seat in the Ontario Legislature next month, ending an eight-year tenure in provincial politics.
Caroline Mulroney said in a public statement released Monday that her resignation from cabinet and as Member of Provincial Parliament for York–Simcoe will officially take effect on June 5, 2026.
The outgoing minister described the decision as difficult, explaining that major personal changes in recent years — including the death of her father, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and becoming an empty nester — influenced her decision to leave elected office.
Mulroney thanked Ontario Premier Doug Ford for the opportunity to serve in government, calling it “one of the greatest privileges” of her life. Ford, in response, praised Mulroney’s leadership and described her as both a trusted cabinet colleague and close personal friend.
Since first being elected in 2018, Mulroney has held several senior cabinet portfolios within the Progressive Conservative government, including Attorney General, Minister of Transportation, Minister of Francophone Affairs, and most recently President of the Treasury Board.
Her departure is expected to trigger a byelection in the York–Simcoe riding north of Toronto. Ontario’s Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy is expected to temporarily assume Mulroney’s Treasury Board responsibilities once her resignation takes effect.
Political observers say Mulroney’s exit marks a significant change within Ford’s cabinet, where she had long been regarded as one of the government’s highest-profile ministers and a prominent figure within Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party.
The announcement also sparked widespread reaction online, with social media users speculating about Mulroney’s future political ambitions and possible involvement in federal or municipal politics in the years ahead.