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New Cabinet considerations (Cardozo)

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October 25, 2021

New Cabinet considerations (Cardozo)

By Andrew Cardozo

From Originally published in Hill Times

Trudeau has plenty of fresh faces, proven talent to address clear gaps in his cabinet
By ANDREW CARDOZO OCTOBER 1, 2021

Don’t expect too many departures, but expect some renewal as he puts forward a fresh new face on his six-year-old government ready to take on the many big issues waiting for it.

OTTAWA—A new cabinet is coming and there are some clear gaps or changes needed.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is committed to a gender-balanced cabinet and now needs to appoint at least four new women to cabinet. Three women ministers lost their seats—Maryam Monsef, Deb Schulte, and Bernadette Jordan; and one, Catherine McKenna, didn’t run in the election.

And a male issue causes him a challenge. He will likely appoint one or two ministers from Alberta, where just two men were elected to the Liberal benches.

Five new ministers is a good injection of new blood, in a cabinet of 37, if it is to remain that size.

Former prime minister John Diefenbaker appointed the first woman to cabinet in 1957 (Ellen Fairclough) and Trudeau appointed the first gender-equal cabinet 58 years later. Remember, “Because it’s 2015!”

Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal is the only Indigenous member of cabinet. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

And here are a couple of additional ideas. How about more Indigenous presence in cabinet? Currently Dan Vandal in northern affairs is the only one. And maintaining or increasing the presence of MPs of colour in cabinet? A woman to be defence minister after the never-ending sexism scandals in the Armed Forces? And how about regional economic development agencies being managed by regional ministers to enhance direct regional input at the cabinet table?

On a related note, how about a woman being the new chief of defence staff? It’s just more likely a woman will not have crazy stuff in her background, as so many men seem to in that institution.

So here are some thoughts. Yvonne Jones from Labrador, N.L. to be defence or fisheries ministers—she did the latter gig in the Newfoundland and Labrador cabinet and is the only Indigenous woman in the Liberal caucus.

Marci Ien from Toronto Centre, Ont., to replace Maryam Monsef in women and gender equality. She developed good parliamentary skills as a member of the House Heritage Committee in helping push the controversial broadcasting Bill C-10 through. And, there hasn’t been a Black woman in cabinet in 17 years.

Greg Fergus is an experienced hand, with a good handle on public service issues, and has been chair of the Black Parliamentary Caucus, a federal-provincial network across parties.

From Nova Scotia, Lena Diab is a new MP but has been in the Nova Scotia legislature and cabinet for eight years in various senior portfolios, the first Lebanese-Canadian in cabinet in that province.

There are many other MPs who should be considered: former businesswoman Gudie Hutchings from Newfoundland; Mississauga-area MP Kamal Khera who is a nurse; Brampton MP Ruby Sahota, a lawyer who had the thankless task of chairing the Procedures and House Affairs Committee; Julie Dabrusin, chair of the Heritage Committee; Julie Dzerowicz, a proponent for workers’ rights and basic income; Judy Sgro and Kirsty Duncan with cabinet experience; Helena Jaczek and Marie-France Lalonde, with experience in the Ontario cabinet; Hedy Fry, the longest-serving woman MP ever, first elected in 1993; and Sophie Chatel, the new MP from Pontiac, Que., who has a strong international finance background.

Sean Fraser is a contender for the Nova Scotia cabinet representative after successful gigs as parliamentary secretary for environment and then finance.

Albertan Randy Boissonnault from Edmonton has parliamentary experience having served one term from 2015 to 2019, and new MP, George Chahal, a Calgary city councillor, is a fresh face on the federal scene.

Gary Anandasangaree is also among those who has proven himself, writes Andrew Cardozo. The Hill Times photograph by Shruti Shekar

Other contenders who have proved themselves include Arif Virani, Gary Anandasangaree, and James Maloney from the Toronto area, Rob Oliphant, a United Church minister; Olympian Adam Van Koeverdan from the 905; Yasir Naqvi from Ottawa and Michael Coteau from Toronto, who both served in the Ontario cabinet of former premier Kathleen Wynne.

Each of these MPs brings considerable policy and personal credentials that can strengthen any cabinet.

Trudeau has not dropped many ministers over his six years—although several have left. So don’t expect too many departures, but expect some renewal as he puts forward a fresh new face on his six-year-old government ready to take on the many big issues waiting for it. Economic recovery, childcare, seniors care, reconciliation, climate change, and housing are the key elements of the Liberal platform waiting for a new cabinet and a new Parliament.

Andrew Cardozo is president of the Pearson Centre.

Originally published in The Hill Times