Prime Minister Mark Carney sat down with his new cabinet for the first time Wednesday morning.
It comes after he shook up his cabinet a day earlier, moving some key players into new positions and promoting 24 new faces in a move meant to signal change at the top.
Carney shook up his cabinet Tuesday by moving some key players into new positions and promoting 24 new faces in a move meant to signal change at the top.
While some members of his team were prominent figures in former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s government — including Dominic LeBlanc, Mélanie Joly, Chrystia Freeland and François-Philippe Champagne — Carney froze out other prominent members of his predecessor’s cabinet.
Carney named 28 full ministers to his cabinet and also appointed a second tier of 10 secretaries of state.
The prime minister has dropped several cabinet veterans from the Trudeau years, including former natural resources minister Jonathan Wilkinson and former defence minister Bill Blair.
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Carney said he sought to balance new perspectives with experience in picking his team and noted half of the ministers are new to the front bench.
Newly appointed secretary of state for the Canada Revenue Agency, Wayne Long, told reporters before heading into the meeting that he’s already seeing a big difference in how things are being run under Carney.
Long — who was one of several Liberals who drove a caucus revolt against Trudeau last year over his leadership — said he believes the shift in approach is “long overdue.”
Many of the ministers attending the first meeting of the new cabinet Wednesday, following Tuesday’s swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall, said they are still being briefed on their new files.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser said the Carney government will be focused on the economy and dealing with a combative U.S. administration on trade.
“My experience in the first few weeks and over the course of the election campaign is there is a relentless focus on the economy, strengthening Canada’s ability to be on the international stage and making sure that we actually stand up to the United States government,” Fraser said.
“It’s this singular focus on the issues that are clearly top of mind for people who live in communities like mine that shows a different corporate culture, so to speak.”
Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson said he is looking forward to “digging” into his new role, adding he plans to head out to the West soon for meetings in the Prairie provinces.
Carney vowed Parliament will move at a rapid pace once it starts up again on May 26 and said his government will deliver on its promises with “urgency and determination.”
Carney told reporters Tuesday that his government’s priorities include standing up to the U.S. and developing the “best possible” security and economic relationship.
He said his government will build a single Canadian economy, “reinforce bridges” across labour, business and civil society and advance nation-building investments that will support the “core mission” of creating the strongest economy in the G7.
— With files from Kyle Duggan
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