Kitchener-Waterloo

Local MPPs take on new parliamentary assistant roles

All three Waterloo region Progressive Conservative MPPs now have parliamentary assistant roles with the provincial government.

MPP Mike Harris gets new role, Fee adds deputy house leader to her duties

The three Progressive Conservative MPPs for Waterloo region have new roles in the provincial government. The MPPs are (from left) Belinda Karahalios of Cambridge, Mike Harris Jr. of Kitchener-Conestoga and Amy Fee of Kitchener South-Hespeler. (Kate Bueckert/CBC)

The three Progressive Conservative MPPs in Waterloo region are taking on new parliamentary assistant roles.

Kitchener South-Hespeler MPP Amy Fee retains her role as parliamentary assistant to the minister of children, community and social services with a focus on children and autism. She will also now be the deputy house leader.

Cambridge MPP Belinda Karahalios moves from her role as parliamentary assistant to the minister of children, community and social services to become parliamentary assistant to the solicitor general with a focus on correctional services.

Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris will get a new role as parliamentary assistant to the minister of natural resources and forestry.

In a release, Harris called his new role "a tremendous honour."

"As an outdoors enthusiast and having spent many years living in rural Ontario, I am looking forward to my role in promoting Ontario's great outdoor recreational activities while being a steward for the environment," he said.

The new roles were announced Wednesday, about a week after Premier Doug Ford shuffled his cabinet.

Parliamentary assistants help ministers with legislative and committee issues.