Justin Trudeau, the 42-year-old son of charismatic former prime minister Pierre Trudeau who is credited with opening Canada to new immigrants in the 1970s, led the Liberal Party to win 184 seats in the 338-member House of Commons.
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“The appointment of Ministers Judy-Wilson Raybould and Hunter Tootoo has sent a strong message that this government is serious about ensuring that cabinet reflects the strengths, talents, and diversity of Canadians”, said Dr. Amritpal Singh Shergill, WSO President.
Navdeep Bains, who played a key role in Trudeau’s election as the Liberal Party leader in 2013, has been awarded with a cabinet berth.
John McCallum (PhD’77) is the new minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship; Jim Carr (BA’79) is the minister of natural resources; and Catherine McKenna (LLB’99) is the minister of environment and climate change.
When asked why he felt gender equality in the Cabinet was important, Mr Trudeau told reporters yesterday “because it’s 2015”.
“Equal Voice applauds our new federal cabinet”, National Chair Lynne Hamilton said in a statement.
Canada had previously talked about buying 65 jets from the program, but Trudeau has said he wants a cheaper option.
The new ministers, who are mostly aged between 35 and 50, took their oaths in the bilingual ceremony.
While a cabinet minister earns $80,100 above and beyond the basic MPs salary of $167,400, the parliamentary pay scale calls for a minister of state to earn only $60,000 on top of their MPs salary.
Cameron noted there are a number of things to consider when putting together a cabinet, many of which Trudeau seems to have covered. The Canada PM also included two aboriginals and three Sikh politicians in his cabinet. They are scheduled to hold their first meeting in the afternoon and then face the media – a departure from the Harper era.
He’s promised to roll back the First Nations Transparency Act…so band members will once again be in the dark…about what their leaders are being paid… and of course he’s promising nirvana for the country’s pot heads.
In reply to a question about the gender parity of the government, Trudeau explained it happens to be “Because it’s 2015”.
Global trade is now under the guidance of former journalist Chrystia Freeland.
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The younger Trudeau remembers his new office when it was occupied by his father. Among his first acts was to appoint a cabinet of 30 members – and exactly half of them are women.
