Ontario Progressive Conservative MPP Parm Gill is jumping to federal politics to run for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives.
The two-term provincial legislature announced his departure from the provincial legislature and Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet in a statement Thursday.
Gill said he’s seen “first hand” that Poilievre has a strong commitment to “making our country better.”
Gill said that after “much discussion” with his wife, family, and “many members” of his community, that it was time to represent his constituents of Milton on a federal level.
“I am motivated to continue to fight for the constituents of Milton by joining Pierre Poilievre’s common sense Conservative team in their efforts to defeat Justin Trudeau’s Liberal-NDP costly coalition,” reads the statement.
“I want to thank Premier Ford for his confidence in me and for helping me deliver for Milton and our great province.”
Gill first won his former Milton riding in 2018. He served as Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism from 2021 to 2022 and most recently became Minister of Red Tape Reduction.
Gill was the federal MP for the former riding of Brampton—Springdale in the House of Commons from 2011 to 2015. He lost the 2015 election but found success in provincial politics as a PC candidate in the 2018 election.
The Ontario Liberal Party seized the moment by releasing a statement claiming Gill’s resignation was a sign that Ford is losing support.
“This is clearly another sign that Ford’s team is abandoning a sinking ship,” said party press secretary Carter Brownlee. “Ontario Liberals will have more to say on this race in the coming days. We certainly welcome this opportunity to grow our caucus.”
However, Ford spokesperson Caitlin Clark thanked Gill for his service “as a valued member of our caucus,” in a written statement to CBC News. “We wish him every success in this next chapter and will announce a new Minister of Red Tape Reduction at a later date.”
