Justin Trudeau was sworn in as Canada’s 23rd prime minister on a sunny Wednesday morning in Ottawa.
Trudeau, his wife and his new cabinet arrived on buses, then walked up the driveway of Rideau Hall through a large crowd of cheering onlookers – at least one of them dancing.
As promised, Trudeau has balanced his 30-member cabinet with 15 men and 15 women – plus himself. He also has a mix of veteran and rookie MPs.
Many of the familiar faces received major cabinet posts. Longtime MP Ralph Goodale is the new Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. Former Liberal leader Stéphane Dion is Minister of Foreign Affairs. Carolyn Bennett is Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. Scott Brison is President of the Treasury Board and former astronaut and veteran MP Marc Garneau is the new Minister of Transport.
John McCallum is the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship – whose first task will likely be to manage bringing thousands of Syrian refugees to Canada.
READ MORE: A look at 5 high-profile members of Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet
There are lots of new faces in cabinet too – taking on big jobs as they enter Parliament for the first time.
The most prominent is Bay Street insider Bill Morneau, formerly executive chair of the massive human resources firm Morneau Shepell. He is Canada’s new finance minister.
Vancouver Granville MP, former crown prosecutor and former regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations Jody Wilson-Raybould is the new Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Calgary Centre MP Kent Hehr is the new minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. And family doctor Jane Philpott is the new Minister of Health.
“Government by cabinet is back,” said Trudeau at a press conference following the ceremony. He and his cabinet will sit down and decide together how to accomplish his new government’s priorities, he said.
He may have been trying to send signals about those priorities through renaming some of the cabinet posts. For example, the ministry once known as Citizenship and Immigration is now called Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship – perhaps to highlight Trudeau’s refugee resettlement commitments. Also, the Environment portfolio has been renamed Environment and Climate Change and is held by rookie MP Catherine McKenna.
“We have an awful lot of work to do,” said Trudeau.
Trudeau’s swearing-in took place at Rideau Hall before a crowd of dignitaries and Liberal luminaries, including former prime ministers Jean Chretien and John Turner, as well as friends and family members.
WATCH: Highlights from swearing-in ceremony
Crowds began gathering outside the gates to Rideau Hall around 8 a.m., with security opening up the entrances about an hour later. There was a brief security sweep, with bags searched and metal detectors used, and then the public was allowed to access the driveway leading up to Rideau Hall.
Over 1,000 people lined the road, cheering as the cabinet and Trudeau came into view.
IN PHOTOS: Justin Trudeau, Liberal cabinet sworn in at Rideau Hall
“This is so important for Canada,” said Vic Djurdjevic, who travelled to Ottawa by car with his daughter, Maggi, from Burlington, ON.
“To really move forward, and have a leader that reaches out to the people.”
Maggi Djurdjevic said the event was important to her as well. She is in the process of reading Trudeau’s memoir, she said, and “maybe if I get a chance he’ll sign it for me.”
With files from the Canadian Press and Global News’ Monique Muise.
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