Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveils members of his new cabinet
Posted November 20, 2019 11:03 am.
Last Updated November 20, 2019 3:33 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Weeks of rampant speculation about the members of Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet has vanished as each is sworn in at Rideau Hall.
The incoming cabinet consists of 36 ministers, not including the prime minister himself, and also has gender parity, following the standard Trudeau set in 2015.
In a statement, Trudeau calls his new cabinet a “strong, diverse and experienced team” that will be “working tirelessly for all Canadians.”
A few key ministers are not moving from their posts: Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay.
Others are taking on big portfolios: Ahmed Hussen becomes social-development minister, Marco Mendicino the immigration minister, Seamus O’Regan the minister of natural resources, Patty Hajdu the minister of health, and newcomer Marc Miller the minister of Indigenous services.
Two ministers who remain MPs have been removed from cabinet: Ginette Petitpas Taylor, who was health minister, is now deputy government whip; and Kirsty Duncan, the science and sport minister, becomes deputy leader of the government in the House of Commons.
Winnipeg MP Jim Carr is also not receiving a cabinet post as he battles cancer, but Trudeau is making him a special representative for the Prairies to be a voice in cabinet for Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The Liberals were shut out of every riding in Saskatchewan and Alberta in the Oct. 21 vote.
New House leader Pablo Rodriguez will also be Trudeau’s Quebec lieutenant.
