Ontario Education Minister Todd Smith has announced he is resigning his seat and from cabinet effective immediately to accept a job in the private sector.

Smith has served in cabinet since Premier Doug Ford’s government was first elected in 2018, but spent the longest amount of time in the energy portfolio.

He resigns after spending less than three months as education minister, following a cabinet shuffle in June.

Smith says in a statement that it was a very difficult decision to leave, and he thanks his wife and children for all of their support over the 13 years he has spent at the legislature.

Smith served as the provincial representative for Bay of Quinte and was first elected when the Progressive Conservatives were in Opposition in 2011.

Ford says in a statement that Smith leaves politics with a record that he can be incredibly proud of.

More coming.