Cabinet chips have fallen, with symbolism in the settling

OTTAWA—So, how did you make out in that cabinet speculation game we played last week? Did you make enough money to retire? The cabinet was unveiled yesterday and here are some quick takes. Other than Chrystia Freeland, two of the big winners are Mélanie Joly and Steven Guilbeault. Joly is Canada’s new minister of foreign affairs—a massive promotion for her from her previous role as minister for economic development and official languages after her difficult tenure in Canadian Heritage. Foreign affairs is one of the top jobs in cabinet. And never, to my recollection, has Canada ever had both a female finance minister and a female foreign affairs minister serving simultaneously. No doubt this government will play up the symbolism of this history. Guilbeault gets his dream job. The feisty, contentious former environmental activist becomes the minister of environment. This will be celebrated by many in the environment community and expectations for aggressive action on climate change policy will barely be able to be contained. In the resource development sector across the country, mass panic has now probably broken out. Many industries in that space view Guilbeault as a threat to their future. Jonathan Wilkinson, the new minister of natural resources replacing Seamus O’Regan, will have to do a lot of hand holding with the natural resources industries. New Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, pictured second from right with his family on the way into Rideau Hall on Oct. 26. Wilkinson will have to do a lot of hand holding in his new file, writes Tim Powers. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade Speaking of O’Regan, he can’t be delighted that he has moved from Natural Resources to labour. Not that the department of labour is without its challenges—and the labour relations landscape in Canada is complex—but that ministry is not viewed as heavy weight role. He will be happy, though, both that fellow Newfoundland and Labrador MP Gudie Hutchings has joined him in cabinet as minister of rural economic development and that his former Canada AM colleague Marci Ien has become minister of women, gender equality, and youth. With the stroke of a pen, the PM has now created both a Canada AM Cabinet committee and put two Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in cabinet for only the second time in 40-plus years. Canada’s only current Liberal premier of the Rock is smiling. Anita Anand, as many speculated, becomes national defence minister, and as expected Marc Miller takes over as minister of Crown-Indigenous relations. These are roles clearly earned by the competency both ministers demonstrated in their previous portfolios. Despite the obvious skills of Anand and Miller, they have arguably two of the most difficult jobs in government battling systemic problems, cultural barriers, and complex historical issues. The shuffle has seen new ministries created in name to address matters like housing. Ahmed Hussen becomes minister of housing and diversity and inclusion. So, “housing” is in, but no longer is there a minister responsible for “middle class prosperity.” Who knew middle class prosperity had been achieved? Hopefully the real housing challenges so many Canadians face fare better than middle class prosperity. So, what are we to take from the early hours of this shuffle? It is significant in size. History is made in terms of the appointments that have been announced. As the Trudeau government tends to be, it is heavy on symbolism. Key Trudeau lieutenants, like Dominic LeBlanc, retain influence. Some have been rewarded for performance, like Anand, Miller, and Joly. The prime minister could be legacy minded when it comes to environmental policy with the appointment of Guilbeault. The Liberals will be happy with how their cabinet reveal day went. The show was good. It will take some time to tell if the government and cabinet functioned effectively. Tim Powers is vice-chairman of Summa Strategies and managing director of Abacus Data. He is a former adviser to Conservative political leaders. The Hill Times

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Cabinet chips have fallen, with symbolism in the settling

The prime minister could be legacy minded when it comes to environmental policy with the appointment of Guilbeault.

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