George Smitherman is the new minister of health and long-term care.

Smitherman was elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003. Before he became an MPP, he had experience at Queen’s Park and served as chief of staff to former Toronto mayor Barbara Hall. He was also an advisor to federal cabinet ministers David Collenette and Herb Gray.

The Toronto resident, who lives downtown, has lead policy initiatives in areas including housing, heritage preservation, human rights, community economic development and protection of pension rights, according to the Government of Ontario’s website.

He was behind efforts to reshape the Regent Park community by raising money for an education program run by the Regent Park Community Health Centre, by helping develop a residents’ council and by supporting a plan to rejuvenate the community, according to his biography.

Smitherman is involved in a variety of community and charitable projects.