Deputy Premier of Ontario

The deputy premier of Ontario (vice-première ministre de l'Ontario) is a minister of the Crown and senior member of the provincial Executive Council (Cabinet). The office was first created in 1977 is conferred on the advice of the premier of Ontario. Though the role is seen as informally important, it does not hold formal legal power in its own right, and does not automatically receive any powers in the case of absence or death of a premier.

Sylvia Jones is the 12th and current deputy premier of Ontario, assuming office on June 24, 2022. She concurrently serves as the minister of health.

History
For much of the province's early history, the position of provincial secretary and registrar of Ontario was the second most powerful position in the Ontario Cabinet. This role diminished by the 1960s, overtaken by the deputy premier in 1977 and abolished in 1985.

To date, every person serving as deputy premier of Ontario has also concurrently held another senior position in the Ontario Cabinet. Bette Stephenson, Robert Nixon, Floyd Laughren, Ernie Eves, Jim Flaherty, and Dwight Duncan were all concurrently provincial treasurer or, as that position was renamed in 1993, minister of Finance.

Christine Elliott, deputy premier from 2018 to 2022, was widow of Jim Flaherty, deputy premier from 2001 to 2002 (who died in 2014).