Kusmierczyk named parliamentary secretary
Newly elected Windsor-tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk has been appointed as parliamentary secretary to the minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion in Justin Trudeau’s minority government.
The former Windsor city councillor is one of 39 parliamentary secretaries announced by Trudeau Thursday morning.
“Incredibly honoured to have been named parliamentary secretary to the minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion by PM @Justintrudeau,” Kusmierczyk tweeted after learning of his appointment.
“I look forward to working with Min @Cqualtro (Carla Qualtrough) to deliver real, positive results for all Canadians.”
Parliamentary secretaries are not members of cabinet and do not play a formal role in the cabinet decision-making process. They support their ministers, but overall responsibility and accountability remains with the minister.
Qualtrough is new to the ministry but has been in the Liberal cabinet since 2015, previously serving as minister of sport and persons with disabilities and then minister or public services and procurement and accessibility.
Kusmierczyk — the Ward 7 councillor since winning a byelection over 11 candidates in 2013 — was elected the Liberal MP for Windsor-tecumseh by a narrow margin on Oct. 21.
Windsor city councillors have since decided they will use a byelection instead of appointing a replacement to fill the vacant Ward 7 seat.
That byelection has been set for April 27.