The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced changes to the Ministry and welcomed new members to Cabinet.
The Government of Canada is focused on growing the economy, strengthening the middle class, and creating more opportunities for everyone. The new responsibilities of our team build on Canada’s strong economic foundations, further position our country for growth and success, and reflect changing realities in the global economy.
Canada is a trading nation whose economy relies on the hard work and innovation of its small businesses, entrepreneurs, and workers. The changes to the Ministry will place an even greater focus on diversifying international trade, supporting and growing small businesses, expanding tourism, promoting our exports, and improving trade within our own borders. Creating more jobs, opportunities, and prosperity for Canadians is the Government’s top priority.
New ministers added to the cabinet today:
- Mary Ng, becomes minister for small business and export promotion.
- Bill Blair, becomes minister of border security and organized crime reduction.
- Filomena Tassi, a Hamilton MP, becomes minister for seniors.
- Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson becomes minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
- Pablo Rodriguez, who was serving as chief government whip, becomes minister of heritage and multiculturalism.
Ministers with new or changed duties:
- Dominic LeBlanc moves from Fisheries and Oceans to Intergovernmental Affairs, Northern Affairs and Internal Trade.
- Amarjeet Sohi moves from Infrastructure to Natural Resources.
- Carla Qualtrough, remains minister of public services and procurement and gets the added portfolio of Accessibility.
- Jim Carr moves from Natural Resources to International Trade Diversification.
- Mélanie Joly goes from Heritage to minister of tourism, official languages and la francophonie.
- François-Philippe Champagne moves from International Trade to Infrastructure and Communities.
Of special note to our members is the addition of new portfolios.
- James Gordon Carr, currently Minister of Natural Resources, becomes Minister of International Trade Diversification. Canada’s prosperity is tied to progressive trade and economic opportunities beyond our borders, and Minister Carr will work to help Canadian people and businesses compete and succeed around the world, and diversify our trading markets.
- Bill Blair, currently Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and to the Minister of Health, becomes Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction. He will work to ensure Canada’s borders are managed in a way that promotes legitimate travel and trade while keeping Canadians safe and treating everyone fairly and in accordance with our laws. He will play an important role in coordinating efforts to reduce gun violence and tackle organized crime. Minister Blair will also continue to lead the legalization and strict regulation of cannabis, and will be the minister responsible for irregular migration.
Excerpts taken from the PMO press release on July 18, 2018.