Cansfield dropped into `difficult' post

Donna Cansfield, Ontario's new energy minister, won't get to ease into her first cabinet posting.

As soon as today, she could face questions in the Legislature about this summer's rolling brownouts and whether the province will build more nuclear reactors to fix the energy crisis.

Until Tuesday night's mini-cabinet shuffle, brought on by the sudden resignation of the finance minister, Cansfield was the parliamentary assistant to former energy minister Dwight Duncan. He's now the finance minister.

When asked about her views on nuclear power yesterday, Cansfield begged for time.

"I've been working on the (energy) conservation file. Give me a little time to get up to speed and I'll get back to you," she said.

Cansfield's promotion from the Liberal backbenches to one of the most important portfolios — raises the number of women in cabinet to six out of 24.

It also raised a few eyebrows.

Cansfield, a first time MPP whose background is in the field of education, is now suddenly in charge of the province's electricity supply.

"I am surprised that the premier has taken a portfolio that I think of as a very key economic portfolio and given it to a rookie member of the Legislature," said Conservative Leader John Tory.

Cansfield, 60, used to be a card-carrying Conservative. But she vowed to run against her former political party in 2002 after the Conservative government stripped the Toronto District School Board of its powers when the board failed to balance its budget. She was co-chair of the board at the time.

"I'm tired of people not standing up and saying, `I believe in public education,'" Cansfield said at the time about what prompted her to run for the Liberals in the Etobicoke Centre riding.

Now, she'll have other battles to worry about.

"The energy file is on fire," said Tom Adams of Energy Probe.

The province teetered on the brink of blackouts during the hot summer and had to import near-record amounts of very expensive power from the United States to keep the lights on.

The challenge of finding sufficient power is only going to grow.

The province has committed to closing coal-fired plants and existing nuclear reactors, which produce half the province's power.

On Dec. 1, the Ontario Power Authority, an arm's-length provincial body, is expected to release a report, which will include recommendations on whether the province should build more nuclear power.

But former energy minister Duncan said he's confident Cansfield is up to task.

"Donna sat in on all my briefings right from the start. She is an intelligent capable woman. I was delighted when I heard she would take up that very difficult post. I have every confidence that she'll do a terrific job," Duncan said.

Cansfield spent 15 years as a school trustee and board chair of both the Etobicoke and Toronto District School Boards.

She lives in Etobicoke with her husband. They have two adult children.

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