ANITA Anand went from National Defence Minister to Treasury Board President to head the government’s fiscal operations in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s major cabinet shuffle on Wednesday that saw 23 changes with seven new ministers.
Anand tweeted: “With my background in governance & capital markets, I will work hard to ensure that we make smart, responsible investments to build an economy that works for all Canadians. And, I look forward to working closely with our professional public service to deliver results for Canada.”
Other South Asian ministers who received a new portfolio:
* Harjit S. Sajjan was appointed President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada.
* Kamal Khera became Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities.
Two South Asians were newly appointed to cabinet:
* Arif Virani became Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada — the first Ismaili Minister.
* Gary Anandasangaree became Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations — the first Sri Lankan Tamil Minister.
Besides Anand’s new portfolio, the other big moves were Sean Fraser, the former Immigration Minister, being appointed Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities to handle the challenging housing file, and Bill Blair, the former Minister of Emergency Preparedness, being appointed Minister of National Defence.
Marc Miller is the new Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
Most of the 38-member cabinet now consists of new ministers or ones in different roles. Only eight ministers retained their current portfolios. They included Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
The cabinet retains a total of 38 ministers, in addition to the Prime Minister. In keeping with the precedent set in 2015, there is an equal number of women and men.
Trudeau said: “We are ready to keep delivering on the things that matter most to you – making life more affordable, growing the economy, and creating good jobs for the middle class. We have the right team, made up of accomplished people who reflect the diversity and talent of our country. Together, we will keep building a strong future for the middle class, and for all Canadians.”
THE following ministers remained in their portfolio:
* Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
* François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
* Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
* Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
* Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
* Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
* Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
* Dan Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
THE changes:
* Anita Anand becomes President of the Treasury Board
* Marie-Claude Bibeau becomes Minister of National Revenue
* Bill Blair becomes Minister of National Defence
* Randy Boissonnault becomes Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
* Jean-Yves Duclos becomes Minister of Public Services and Procurement
* Sean Fraser becomes Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
* Karina Gould becomes Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
* Mark Holland becomes Minister of Health
* Ahmed Hussen becomes Minister of International Development
* Gudie Hutchings becomes Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
* Kamal Khera becomes Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities
* Dominic LeBlanc becomes Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
* Diane Lebouthillier becomes Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
* Lawrence MacAulay becomes Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
* Marc Miller becomes Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
* Mary Ng becomes Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
* Seamus O’Regan Jr. becomes Minister of Labour and Seniors
* Ginette Petitpas Taylor becomes Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
* Carla Qualtrough becomes Minister of Sport and Physical Activity
* Pablo Rodriguez becomes Minister of Transport and will continue to serve as Quebec Lieutenant
* Harjit S. Sajjan becomes President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
* Pascale St-Onge becomes Minister of Canadian Heritage
* Jonathan Wilkinson becomes Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
THE following are new members:
* Gary Anandasangaree becomes Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
* Terry Beech becomes Minister of Citizens’ Services
* Soraya Martinez Ferrada becomes Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
* Ya’ara Saks becomes Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
* Jenna Sudds becomes Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
* Rechie Valdez becomes Minister of Small Business
*Arif Virani becomes Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
IN light of Minister Gould’s recent news about an upcoming parental leave starting this winter, Steven MacKinnon, Chief Government Whip, will serve as Leader of the Government in the House of Commons until her return. During this time, Deputy Government Whip Ruby Sahota will serve as Chief Government Whip.
