ANATOMY OF THE LIBERALS’ AGENDA

OTTAWA— Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government takes over Nov. 4. Here are some early priorities for several of his key cabinet ministers as they move to make good on Liberal election vows.

Finance

The new finance minister will be moving to implement a promised tax break for middle-income earners while hiking taxes for those earning more than $200,000 a year. Provinces and municipalities are keenly awaiting a signal when the Liberals will open the spending taps on their promised boost to infrastructure spending. All those moves will likely come in the Liberals’ first budget.

Public Safety

The Liberals backed the Conservatives’ controversial Bill C-51, the Anti-Terrorism Act, but vowed that if elected, they would introduce amendments to fix troublesome aspects of the legislation. The planned changes include adding a mandatory review of the law and parliamentary oversight of national security agencies.

Defence

The first job for the defence minister will be getting Canada out of the ongoing combat mission against Islamic State group fighters in Iraq and Syria. Six CF-18 fighter jets have been bombing Islamic State targets for more than a year.

The minister will also have to push reset on the process to purchase new fighter jets after the Liberals vowed they would not buy the costly F-35 fighter.

Environment

Climate change will be among the first issues tackled by the Liberals, thanks largely to the United Nations gathering in Paris on the topic at the end of November. Trudeau has invited premiers, opposition leaders and those from non-governmental organizations to join him in Paris as nations work on a new international agreement to curb global warming.

Aboriginal Affairs

The Liberals promised to immediately launch a national public inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. It will likely fall to the aboriginal affairs minister to make this inquiry a reality. Trudeau also pledged a new relationship with Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit, along with new funding for education and clean water on reserves, all priorities that fall to this minister.

Foreign Affairs

The day after the election, Trudeau had a message for those worried that Canada had lost its “compassionate and constructive voice” in the world under the Conservatives. “We’re back,” he told supporters. It will fall to the new foreign affairs minister to recast Canada’s position in the world, speak to Ottawa’s view of the United Nations and to put a stamp on high-profile ambassador postings, such as the key post in Washington.