Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled a new team promising “decisive action” on his ambitious economic agenda, amid a trade war with the US and President Donald Trump’s repeated remarks undermining Canada’s sovereignty. #
The new cabinet of 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state marks some significant changes, including a new foreign minister to handle the currently fraught US-Canada relationship.
The reshuffle, two weeks after the election, brings a mix of familiar names as well as political newcomers – a team “purpose-built for this hinge moment”, Carney told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
“Canada’s new ministry is built to deliver the change Canadians want and deserve,” he said.
A new US-Canada team
Carney has made a number of changes to the core team of ministers handling the strained relationship with its southern neighbour.
It comes after Carney’s recently meeting with Trump at the White House, after which he said Trump was willing to negotiate a new trade deal.
Veteran member of parliament (MP), Dominic Leblanc, who has overseen a number of cabinet positions, most recently international trade, will now focus on Canada-US trade and breaking down internal trade barriers within the country – a key campaign pledge.
Toronto-area MP Maninder Sidhu, takes over for Minister of International Trade.
Carney has also named a new foreign minister, Anita Anand, who held a number of top roles in former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, including defence.
Melanie Joly was shuffled out of foreign affairs and given the industry portfolio.
Former justice minister Gary Anandasangaree now takes on the role of public safety, a department that will oversee border security, which Trump has cited as a key reason for imposing tariffs on Canada as well as Mexico.
David McGuinty, who previously held that position, now oversees defence.
Two prominent names have been pushed out of the cabinet – Bill Blair, who oversaw defence, and Jonathan Wilkinson, natural resources minister.
Rookie MP Tim Hodgson, first elected in April, is taking over at natural resources. Carney worked with him at the Bank of Canada, where Hodgson served as a special adviser.
Fresh faces in key roles
The cabinet will include ten secretaries of state, who assist the senior ministers on key files.
Some notable names remaining in their roles include Francois-Philippe Champagne, who stays on as finance minister, a position he has held since March.
Chrystia Freeland, the deputy prime minister under Trudeau and a former foreign affairs and finance minister in his government, stays in transport.
Steven Guilbeault will continue to oversee Canadian culture and official languages.
Federal cabinets in Canada by tradition balance representation of the country’s regional, linguistic and ethnic diversity.
The new cabinet includes representation from Canada’s prairie provinces – a minister and secretary of state – where there are growing musings about separation amid a broader sense of western alienation from the power centre in Ottawa.
Carney is also continuing Trudeau’s policy of maintaining gender parity in his cabinet.
Some of the new faces include former broadcaster Evan Solomon, who will be minister of artificial intelligence and digital innovation.
Toronto MP Julie Dabrusin joins cabinet for the first time as environment minister after having served as parliamentary secretary for the file since 2021.
Halifax MP Lena Metlege Diab is also new to cabinet in the role of minister for immigration.
Vancouver’s former mayor, Gregor Robertson, takes on a significant role overseeing housing. Carney has pledged to significantly ramp up construction amid a housing affordability crisis in Canada.
By BBC News
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