ONTARIO Premier Kathleen Wynne on Wednesday appointed Harinder Malhi, MPP for Brampton-Springdale, as the Minister of the Status of Women.

Another South Asian, Indira Naidoo-Harris, MPP for Halton, was promoted to Education Minister. She will also remain Minister Responsible for Early Years and Child Care. In fact, Malhi’s new portfolio had been part of her duties.

Malhi, who had been on the Peel District School Board before being elected as MPP in 2014, is the daughter of former Liberal MP Gurbax Singh Malhi (Bramalea-Gore-Malton from 1993 to 2011).

The changes in cabinet were necessitated by vacancies created by ministers who are not seeking re-election. The June 7 election is expected to be a tight race.