WHO’S UP, WHO’S DOWN & WHO’S NEW IN TRUDEAU CABINET
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s new federal cabinet has grown by two spots to reach 36 members. Of those, four are from B.C., four are from Atlantic Canada, one is from Manitoba and the rest are from Ontario and Quebec. There are no spectacular surprises in the new cabinet, and many significant portfolios — such as finance, defence, justice and Indigenous relations — are staying the same. But there were also notable changes as the government retools for a minority parliament situation. Here’s an overview of who’s moving up, who’s moving down and who’s moving in. Brian Platt, National Post
PROMOTIONS
Chrystia Freeland, who as global affairs minister was perhaps the highest-profile minister last term, is now being clearly marked as Trudeau’s right hand in cabinet. She’s been named deputy prime minister and minister of intergovernmental affairs and it’s that second role that will be especially important as Trudeau grapples with regional grievances and combative premiers. Freeland’s replacement in global affairs is François-philippe Champagne, who gets a promotion from infrastructure minister. His new job comes as trade tensions remain high and Canada seeks a security council seat at the United Nations.
B.C.’S Jonathan Wilkinson takes over the contentious environment and climate change file, moving up from fisheries minister. Having a western-based environment minister who was raised in Saskatchewan may help Trudeau sell his climate policies, though Wilkinson certainly faces a tough task.
Meanwhile, Newfoundland’s Seamus O’regan is moving from Indigenous services to natural resources, giving him oversight of the energy and pipeline file. On one hand, he’s from an oil-producing province that is no stranger to falling on hard economic times. On the other, O’regan is close personal friends with Trudeau and may not get an easy ride on the prairies.
Another notable promotion is Quebec’s Pablo Rodriguez moving from heritage minister to government house leader, a key role in a minority parliament where every legislative move will need careful negotiation with the other parties. Rodriguez will also be Trudeau’s cabinet point person on all matters Quebec.
DEMOTIONS
Among the top ranks of last term’s cabinet there are no massive demotions this time around. Most of the moves are essentially lateral, such as Catherine Mckenna moving from environment to infrastructure. But there are still some noticeable steps down.
Bardish Chagger was government house leader last term, but she’s been moved out of that role ahead of the minority parliament when it becomes a much trickier job. Instead Chagger has been given the portfolio of diversity, inclusion and youth — a vague-sounding title that did not exist in the last cabinet (aside from the fact Trudeau himself had taken on the role of youth minister).
Two cabinet ministers have been dropped from cabinet entirely, Kirsty Duncan (previously minister for science and sport) and Ginette Petitpas Taylor (previously minister of health).
Both are taking on non-cabinet roles, Duncan as deputy house leader and Petitpas Taylor as deputy government whip.
Petitpas Taylor leaves the health portfolio as it’s about to take on more importance, with Trudeau promising to develop a national pharmacare program. Instead it will be Patty Hajdu, previously labour minister, who shepherds that process.
ROOKIES
There are seven newcomers to this cabinet, and the two newly-elected MPS — Anita Anand and Steven Guilbeault — are also getting two of the toughest jobs.
Anand, a former law professor at the University of Toronto, is now the minister of public works and procurement. It’s a complex job that doesn’t get a lot of attention outside Ottawa until a major problem arises, such as the Phoenix pay system debacle or the troubled procurement of new fighter jets.
Guilbeault, a well-known environmentalist from Montreal, is taking on the heritage file, a sometimes precarious job for a Quebec politician — just ask Mélanie Joly, who was earlier hounded out of that office largely over Québécois concerns that Netflix got a sweetheart deal over local media production. Guilbeault is also now in charge of the controversial $595-million subsidy package for newspapers, better known as the “media bailout.”
Other cabinet rookies include Mona Fortier, who becomes minister of middle-class prosperity and associate finance minister; Marco Mendicino, who will be immigration minister; Marc Miller, the new minister of Indigenous services; Deb Schulte, the new minister of seniors; and Dan Vandal, who becomes minister of northern affairs.