Laryssa Waler is leaving her post of executive director of communications for the premier.
The Globe was first to report the move.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: One of <a href="https://twitter.com/fordnation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fordnation</a>’s top staffers, executive director of communications <a href="https://twitter.com/LWaler?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LWaler</a>, is leaving the premier’s office to return to the private sector and spend more time with her young family <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/onpoli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#onpoli</a>
— Laura Stone (@l_stone) <a href="https://twitter.com/l_stone/status/1224750828105424898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Being a working mom, especially in politics, is all about balance," she wrote in an email to colleagues that was shared with QP Briefing. "My husband has been incredibly supportive of me and I'm looking forward to spending more time with my young sons Maksym and Nicholas, and returning to the private sector."
She thanked constituency staffers and those at Queen's Park, and Doug Ford.
"Premier, thank you for your leadership, friendship and sense of humour. You...will always have my unfailing support," she wrote.
Waler had previously served as press secretary for the PCs when Tim Hudak was the leader of the opposition. She's worked in communications and stakeholder relations in the private sector, and run her own shop. In the most recent PC leadership campaign, she did communications for now-Minister of Finance Rod Phillips, before he decided not to run.
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Grant Vingoe has been appointed as the acting chair of the Ontario Securities Commission, according to the latest Order in Council. Vingoe steps up to the top role at the financial regulator after serving as the vice-chair since 2015. He replaces Maureen Jensen, who left the role last month. "I have enjoyed every moment working alongside my respected colleagues and leadership team, and contributing to Ontario’s vibrant, healthy and internationally recognized capital markets," she wrote in a statement.
Jensen left the role with one year left on her term. The Globe and Mail reported that there was significant tension between Jensen and the government, with the two parties not seeing eye to eye on issues like mutual fund commissions and environmental disclosure from companies.
Vingoe, a lawyer, is a veteran of the financial regulatory world. He currently serves as the chair of the Joint Regulators Committee of the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investment and he previously was a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, based in New York City.
He begins the role on April 15.
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Melissa Lantsman, who directed Ford's war room in the 2018 campaign, has left Hill+Knowlton Strategies to become Vice President of National Public Affairs for Enterprise Canada.
“Melissa is one of the best in the business," said Enterprise President Jason Lietaer in a statement. "She’s a high-energy, strategic thinker who has the same campaign mindset we pride ourselves on at Enterprise. She understands business and politics and she gets what it takes to win. She’s someone you always want to have on your side and that’s why we’re so excited to have her on board.”
A political veteran, Lantsman is also a frequent media commentator.

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