Trudeau addresses cabinet changes on Parliament Hill
Chrystia Freeland has been appointed Canada’s new minister of foreign affairs in Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s first major shakeup of his cabinet.
But the future of the man she is succeeding is unclear.
Freeland, who leaves the international trade portfolio, replaces veteran MP Stéphane Dion. Sources had told CBC News Dion was offered the position as Canada’s ambassador to the European Union and Germany, but a statement from Trudeau released Tuesday did not mention a future role for the long-serving member of Parliament.
“I, and all Canadians, owe him a deep debt of gratitude for his service,” it read. “I know I will be able to continue to count on his wisdom and his tireless service, and look forward to the next chapter of Mr. Dion’s contributions to our country.”
By contrast, the statement said outgoing immigration minister John McCallum will be named Canada’s ambassador to China after a “distinguished career in public service.”
Trudeau is set to discuss his cabinet shuffle with reporters on Parliament Hill at 3:30 p.m. ET. CBCnews.ca is carrying his remarks live.
The swearing-in ceremony for the new ministers took place at Rideau Hall, the official residence and workplace of the governor general.
Other changes announced today:
- François-Philippe Champagne becomes minister of international trade.
- Patty Hajdu moves from status of women to labour.
- Maryam Monsef transfers from democratic institutions to status of women.
- Karina Gould named minister of democratic institutions.
- Ahmed Hussen becomes minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship.
While the ceremony was still underway, Dion’s office issued a statement wishing Freeland “the best of luck,” but left his future unclear.
“Over the last 21 years, I have devoted myself to my riding, to my fellow citizens, to Quebec, to all of Canada, to the role that we must play in the world, and to the Liberal Party of Canada,” he wrote.
“Now, I shall deploy my efforts outside active politics. I have enjoyed political life, especially when I was able to make a difference to benefit my fellow citizens. I emerge full of energy … renewable! But politics is not the only way to serve one’s country. Fortunately!”
Hussen, Canada’s first MP of Somali descent, is a lawyer and community activist in the Toronto riding of York South-Weston.
Chrystia Freeland Minister of Foreign Affairs, left to right, Patty Hajdu Minister of Labour, Maryam Monsef Minister of Status of Women, Francois-Philippe Champagne Minister of International Trade, Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship are applauded after being sworn in during a cabinet shuffle at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Tuesday, Jan 10, 2017. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Gould, 29, a former trade and development worker who represents the riding of Burlington, Ont., was promoted from her previous role as parliamentary secretary to the minister of international development.
Champagne, a first-term MP for the Quebec riding of Saint-Maurice–Champlain, is a former businessman and lawyer. He was considered a strong performer as parliamentary secretary to Finance Minister Bill Morneau.
McCallum accepts China post
McCallum, 65, served as defence minister under former prime minister Jean Chrétien and presided over the veteran affairs file in former prime minister Paul Martin’s cabinet. He led Canada’s efforts to bring 39,500 Syrian refugees to Canada.
Dion, 61, held the intergovernmental affairs and environment portfolios under Chrétien and Martin. He also served as Liberal Party leader for two years, a position he held until a failed attempt to lead a coaltion government shortly after the party lost 18 seats in a 2008 federal election defeat.
Under Chrétien, Dion was the architect of the Clarity Act, which set out the legal conditions for Quebec sovereignty.
Ahmed Hussen, the Liberal MP for the Toronto-area riding of York South-Weston, is Canada’s new minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship. (CBC Marketplace)
Monsef, the Ontario MP for Peterborough-Kawartha, has taken criticism for her handling of the electoral reform file, and was forced to apologize last month for accusing MPs on the special committee studying the issue of shirking their duties.
MaryAnn Mihychuk was shuffled out of her office as minister of employment, workforce development and labour.
“I’m of course disappointed,” she said. “I’ve always been a strong advocate as a feminist, as a person who fights for jobs. And I’ll continue to do that.”
Freeland banned from Russia
Freeland, a former journalist, was praised for stickhandling the Canada-European Union free trade agreement, where she gained experience that could be valuable in dealing with the new administration of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.
Freeland was among 13 Canadians slapped with retaliatory sanctions by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2014. The punitive measures were imposed to counter Canadian sanctions against Russian officials over aggression in Ukraine and Crimea.
Today, the Russian Embassy in Ottawa confirmed to CBC News that Freeland is still subject to those sanctions, which ban her from travelling to the country.
Liberal MP Karina Gould will head up the democratic institutions file. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Trudeau’s cabinet was sworn in just over 14 months ago with an even number of men and women, but has seen a few changes prior to today.
Last May, former fisheries minister Hunter Tootoo was dropped from cabinet for personal reasons and replaced by former government House leader Dominic LeBlanc. In a midsummer move, Small Business and Tourism Minister Bardish Chagger was handed LeBlanc’s House leader duties.
The inauguration next week of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump has put new focus on the government’s handling of the Canada-U.S. relationship. A shuffle allows Trudeau to move perceived strong ministers into roles that are critical to that relationship while addressing some of the weaker performers.
François-Philippe Champagne was appointed minister of international trade. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)