Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was sworn in today, along with members of the new Liberal cabinet. Here’s who they are:
Bill Morneau
Portfolio: Finance
Degree of difficulty: Extreme
First challenge: The Liberals have promised their first piece of legislation when Parliament resumes, likely in early December, will be a middle-class tax cut. To help pay for this, they will increase taxes on the richest Canadians. The new finance minister must also carefully manage the government’s dip back into deficit and quickly move on a federal budget. The Liberals are promising to post $25 billion worth of deficits over three years to kick the economy into a higher gear with additional infrastructure spending.
Why he got the job: His economic expertise and riding (Toronto Centre) next to Bay Street makes him, on paper, an almost ideal candidate for the job.
Background: Morneau is the former chair of the C.D. Howe Institute, an economic think-tank, and was a member of Trudeau’s economic advisory council leading up to the election. He is the former head of Morneau Shepell, the largest Canadian human resources services company, and served as an adviser to the Ontario government on pension investments and retirement income.
Catherine McKenna
Portfolio: Environment
Degree of difficulty: Very difficult
First challenge: The Liberals have said they will formally meet the provinces and territories within 90 days “to establish a pan-Canadian framework for combating climate change.” They have promised to put a price on carbon, establish national emissions-reduction targets, and strengthen the environmental review process for energy projects. One of the minister’s first orders of business will be the United Nations climate summit in Paris that starts Nov. 30, which Trudeau will also attend.
Why she got the job: McKenna is a youthful fresh face who demonstrates change with an impressive resume. Elected in Ottawa Centre, she is the minister for the capital area and helps Trudeau reach gender parity in cabinet.
Background: McKenna holds a bachelor’s degree in French and international relations from the University of Toronto, a graduate degree in international relations from the London School of Economics and a law degree from McGill. She practised as a competition and international trade lawyer. She also served on Justin Trudeau’s Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee, and was until recently executive director of a charitable organization based at the University of Ottawa that she co-founded nearly 10 years ago with a mission to improve the lives of people in the developing world.
Stéphane Dion
Portfolio: Foreign Affairs
Degree of difficulty: High
First challenge: Dion will need to get up to speed quickly before major international summits this month in Turkey, the Philippines and Malta, where he will come face-to-face with counterparts from around the world. Longer term, Dion will be tasked with crafting a new Liberal foreign policy while navigating several tricky files. Those include re-engaging the United Nations, re-establishing ties with Iran and dealing with an aggressive Russia.
Why he got the job: A former Liberal leader and cabinet minister, Dion is one of Trudeau’s most experienced and capable ministers. He has dealt with international issues numerous times, including as an environment minister under Paul Martin, when he chaired a major climate change conference in Montreal.
Background: First elected in March 1996 in a byelection (Saint-Laurent-Cartierville), Dion is a former political science professor and was recruited by Jean Chrétien to champion the cause of federalism following the 1995 referendum. He was Liberal leader from December 2006 to December 2008, a period that included the 2008 federal election and resulting coalition crisis that almost installed him as prime minister.
Jim Carr
Portfolio: Natural Resources
Degree of difficulty: Extreme
First challenge: The new resources minister from Winnipeg South Centre faces enormous challenges in trying to help win social licence, especially from aboriginal communities, for oil and gas projects across Canada, as well as establishing a new tone over balancing energy development with environmental responsibility. Major pipeline proposals such as TransCanada’s Energy East project, Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline and the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion are just a few of the projects with uncertain futures.
Why he got the job: His experience in the Manitoba legislature, and his business and community involvement. He provides Manitoba with one of a couple of seats at the cabinet table.
Background: A former oboist and trustee with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, he moved on to journalism, working as a reporter and columnist at the Winnipeg Free Press and CBC Radio. He later served as a Liberal MLA and deputy party leader in the Manitoba legislature. He went on to become the founding chief executive of the Business Council of Manitoba.
Diane Lebouthillier
Portfolio: National Revenue
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: The minister will immediately be faced with ongoing challenges at the Canada Revenue Agency, which has been targeted for hundreds of millions of dollars in cuts and thousands of layoffs over the past few years. The cuts have come at the same time the CRA has acknowledged difficulty in tracking and collecting billions in unreported income from domestic and international tax evasion. The minister must also deal with what experts say is an increasingly complex tax code and a need to review the entire tax system.
Why she got the job: Popular local politician in rural Quebec; as MP forGaspésie-Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine gives Trudeau and the Liberals cabinet representation in the Gaspé region; female voice at cabinet table with significant life experience.
Background: Warden for the Regional County Municipality of Rocher Percé since 2010; owner of a local outfitting operation; spent more than two decades working in social services in the region; holds bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the Université de Moncton.
Amarjeet Sohi
Portfolio: Infrastructure
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: The new minister responsible for infrastructure will be expected to shepherd a Liberal plan to almost double federal infrastructure spending to nearly $125 billion — from $65 billion — over 10 years. He will need to work with provinces and territories and municipalities to identify priority projects and ensure the dollars go out the door in an orderly fashion.
Why he got the job: Experience in municipal politics; advocate for livable cities and light-rail transport; visible minority; Edmonton Mill Woods riding is one of a couple of Liberal seats in the Alberta capital.
Background: A recent three-term Edmonton city councillor, he represented the city on the Canadian Urban Transit Association and is a strong advocate for light-rail transit. He is heavily involved in the Indo-Canadian community in Edmonton and across Alberta. Sohi was a political prisoner in India. In 1988, while doing volunteer development work, he was arrested by authorities, accused of being a terrorist and was beaten and tortured. He was held without charges and without trial for almost two years.
Marc Garneau
Portfolio: Transport
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: The transport minister is responsible for Canada Post and will oversee exactly how the new Liberal government holds to its promise to “save home mail delivery.” Canada Post announced last week it is temporarily suspending the transition from door-to-door mail delivery to community mailboxes in urban areas while the Liberals determine how to proceed. The minister must also decide on the future Canada Post president. Deepak Chopra was appointed by the Conservatives in late July to a new five-year term (and annual salary of around $500,000), although the new term isn’t effective until Feb. 1, 2016.
Why he got the job: His experience in Parliament and years as a trusted senior Liberal MP while in opposition; his Notre-Dame-de-Grâce-Westmount seat in the heart of Montreal — a hugely important city for the Liberals — helps give the city important representation in cabinet.
Background: Holds bachelor of science degree in engineering from the Royal Military College of Kingston and a doctorate in electrical engineering from the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London; was the first Canadian in space; most recently served as Liberal critic for Foreign Affairs in the last Parliament, and has also served as Liberal House leader and critic for industry, natural resources and international trade.
Judy Foote
Portfolio: Public Services and Procurement
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: Co-ordinate with the defence minister on the withdrawal from the U.S.-led F-35 stealth fighter program. The Public Works Minister will also be heavily involved in a new project to buy a less costly fighter jet to replace the RCAF’s CF-18s. In addition, the minister will need to examine the progress made on the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy to identify areas where it can increase support to ensure the Royal Canadian Navy receives the ships it needs, as promised by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Why she got the job: Foote (Random-Burin-St. George’s) is a seasoned Liberal politician with cabinet experience in Newfoundland’s government.
Background: She has been a Liberal MP since 2008, serving as the party’s whip. She also previously held the position of deputy house leader of the Liberal Official Opposition. Foote earlier served for 11 years as a member of the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. She was minister of education, development and rural renewal and industry, trade and technology.
Ralph Goodale
Portfolio: Public Safety
Degree of difficulty: Very
First challenge: Reform the Tories maligned Bill C-51 security law. A major part of that demanding task will be to overseeing creation of an all-party committee of parliamentarians to monitor federal bodies responsible for national security. Also, as promised during the campaign, he must address the worsening problem of terrorist radicalization of teens and young adults.
Why he got the job: He is a highly experienced politician and former cabinet minister, who brings years of experience to the portfolio.
Goodale (Wascana) was first elected to Parliament in 1974. He has served previously as government leader in the House of Commons and minister of agriculture, natural resources, public works and finance.
Dominic LeBlanc
Position: Government House Leader
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: Foster good relations with the opposition parties, ensure priority legislation gets through the House.
Why he got the job: The MP for Beauséjour is a veteran with 15 years of experience in the House, and a trusted friend of Trudeau.
Background: The son of a former Liberal cabinet minister and governor general, Roméo LeBlanc, he is a lawyer and was a special adviser to then-prime minister Jean Chrétien before entering politics himself.
Jane Philpott
Portfolio: Health
Degree of difficulty: Very
First challenge: Work on the politically sensitive issue of physician-assisted suicide, help prepare the groundwork for a new regulatory plan that legalizes marijuana.
Why she got the job: Although she is a political rookie and first-time MP (Markham-Stoufville), she has the academic and professional background to handle complex health issues.
Background: Philpott is a medical doctor and was chief of the department of family medicine at a hospital in her area. She has promoted medical education in Africa and has advocated for HIV/AIDS fundraising.
Kent Hehr
Portfolio: Veterans Affairs
Degree of Difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: Restoration of full pensions and reopening of nine Veterans Affairs offices closed by the Conservatives.
Why he got the job: Seen as empathetic to veterans.
Background: The Calgary Centre MP is a lawyer and former Alberta MLA, serving as provincial shadow minister of justice, finance, education. He was paralyzed at age 22 by a drive-by shooter.
John McCallum
Portfolio: Citizenship and Immigration
Degree of difficulty: Extreme
First challenge: It will be up to McCallum to successfully resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year, as Trudeau has promised, or admit the task is impossible and devise a realistic plan. McCallum will need to make good on the Liberals’ pledge to prioritize family reunification, and move to repeal parts of Bill C-24, which allows senior government politicians to strip Canadian citizenship, without a trial, from dual nationals convicted of serious crimes.
Why he got the job: Trudeau needed an experienced hand to get to work making good on his promise to resettle Syrian refugees. McCallum served as a cabinet minister under both Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, and was the Liberals’ immigration critic before the election.
Background: A former RBC chief economist, McCallum was recruited as a star candidate by Chrétien. He served as veterans affairs minister for Chrétien and then defence minister for Martin. First elected in November 2000, he represents the Toronto-area riding of Markham-Thornhill.
Scott Brison
Position: President of Treasury Board
Degree of difficulty: Moderate to difficult
First challenge: Federal unions will want a reset of the government’s mandate in the ongoing round of collective bargaining and provisions of Bill C-59 that allow it to impose whatever sick leave deal it wants. The Treasury Board president has the Liberals signature “open and transparent” government file, including revamp of the Access to Information Act and improving service and performance standards.
Why he got the job: The 48-year-old former investment banker is one of the government’s experienced MPs with cabinet experience, served as former Finance critic and as MP for Kings-Hants, N.S., will be an important minister for the Atlantic region.
Background: Brison has been an MP since 1997 and was initially Progressive Conservative until he crossed the floor to the Liberals in 2003. He is a former Minister of Public Works and Government Services in the Paul Martin government and served on several cabinet committees, including Treasury Board. More recently, he was a key Liberal spokesman on economic issues, served as the Liberals’ Finance committee cabinet chair and was co-chair of Trudeau’s Economic Council of Advisors.
Navdeep Bains
Portfolio: Innovation, science and economic development
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: Fleshing out the Liberals’ promise to boost the competitiveness of Canadian industry. He must do this with a department, formerly known as Industry, that has a modest annual budget of $1.2 billion with a staff of 4,700.
Why he got the job: As Mississauga-Malton MP he represents the manufacturing heartland, where firms must develop fresh strategies for boosting Canadian productivity and exports.
Background: Strong academic credentials relating to business, including an MBA. Former accountant at Ford Motor Co. of Canada. MP since 2004.
Jody Wilson-Raybould
Portfolio: Justice
Degree of difficulty: Very
First challenge: Introduce promised legislation to limit handguns and assault weapons, and create tougher bail and sentencing measures for domestic violence and sexual assault. With the minister of health, she must oversee the complex process of legalizing marijuana. She will need to consider rolling back Conservative tough-on-crime measures, including some of the 60 mandatory-minimum prison terms for drugs, sex offences and other crimes, without being seen as “soft on crime.” She must also consider reforming prison and parole policies.
Why she got the job: The Vancouver-Granville MP provides Trudeau with a Western Canada minister who is well versed in the law. Her Aboriginal background also provides the diversity in cabinet that Trudeau had promised.
Background: Wilson-Raybould is a provincial former crown prosecutor, B.C. Treaty Commissioner and Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
Hunter Tootoo
Portfolio: Fisheries
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: Restore the $40 million cut by the Conservative government from federal ocean science and monitoring programs. The money will be used to protect the health of fish stocks, monitor contaminants and pollution in the oceans and support what the Liberal government calls responsible and sustainable aquaculture industries. Marine and coastal areas will also be given more protection.
Also on the agenda will be protection of freshwater ecosystems, which will involve a commitment to protect the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River and Lake Winnipeg basins. The government will act on the recommendations of the Cohen Commission on restoring sockeye salmon stocks in the Fraser River and restore $1.5 million in annual federal funding for freshwater research, another program cut by the Conservatives.
Why he got the job: Tootoo (Nunavut) has much political experience but his appointment also sends a signal of the diverse cabinet Trudeau wanted to convey to Canadians.
Background: Born in Rankin Inlet, he was first elected as the MLA for Iqaluit Centre in 1999. He was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly until 2013. He has held numerous cabinet positions, including Minister Responsible for Education, Homelessness, the Nunavut Housing Corp and the Qulliq Energy Corp.
Mélanie Joly
Portfolio: Canadian Heritage
Degree of difficulty: Low to moderate
First challenge: This massive portfolio includes everything from national parks to youth sports, the arts and preparations for Canada’s 150th birthday. Early promised initiatives include a $150-million increase in annual funding for CBC, $180 million more for the Canada Council for the Arts and a new investment of $25 million annually in the National Film Board.
Why she got the job: Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville) has a history of deep involvement in the cultural life of Montreal.
Background: Managing partner of international communications firm. First Quebecker to receive the Arnold Edinburgh Award for her involvement in the cultural community.
Carolyn Bennett
Portfolio: Indigenous and Northern Affairs
Degree of difficulty: Very
First challenge: Help launch a national inquiry into murdered and missing indigenous women, review the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and improve aboriginal education on reserves.
Why she got the job: The Toronto-St. Paul’s MP has plenty of experience in Parliament and, as the party’s aboriginal affairs critic, knows the file well.
Background: She is a medical doctor and veteran MP, first elected in 1997. SHE became the country’s first public health minister when she was appointed in 2003 by then-prime minister Paul Martin.
MaryAnn Mihychuk Kildonan-St. Paul in Manitoba
Portfolio: Employment
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: Sorting out how the modernization of the department’s massive computer networks will mesh with Shared Services Canada’s attempt to consolidate the government’s national information technology grid. Conservatives left a fractured relationship with labour that the labour movement will want repaired. Labour will push hard to restore “fair and balanced” labour laws and immediate repeal of Conservative anti-union bills C-377 and C-525.
Why she got the job: Gender was a factor for the Manitoba (Kildonan-St. Paul) MP, but so was her experience in provincial government.
Background: A geoscientist and former minister of industry, trade and mines at the provincial level. She served nine years as an MLA.
Harjit Sajjan
Portfolio: Defence
Degree of difficulty: Very
First challenge: Ending Canada’s combat mission in Iraq and Syria. After that, the minister will have to help oversee the process of withdrawing Canada from the U.S.-led F-35 stealth fighter jet program. That will also require the Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence to move forward on a new project to purchase a replacement aircraft for the air force’s CF-18 jets. Also on the agenda will be dealing with the issue of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Forces and the implementation of a report by Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie, since retired and now a Liberal MP for Orléans, that calls for cutting red tape at National Defence headquarters in Ottawa, finding savings that can be directed to key military roles and moving as many as 3,000 staff to jobs that support front-line operations.
Why he got the job: The former military officer will be able to navigate the world of Canadian defence.
Background: Sajjan (Vancouver South) is a former police officer and a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Forces. He has deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina and served three separate deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan. He received much recognition for his service, including the Meritorious Service Medal for reducing the Taliban’s influence in Kandahar Province.
Chrystia Freeland
Portfolio: International Trade
Degree of difficulty: Moderate to high
First challenge: Freeland will need to get a handle — and plan a way forward — on Canada’s pending free trade deals with the European Union and the 12-country Trans-Pacific Partnership. Neither are finished, and both face opposition from some Canadian industries. Promoting Canada’s flagging exports will also be a priority to eliminate the country’s trade deficit, which is hurting the economy.
Why she got the job: A former financial journalist and news executive, she has a great deal of economic and international experience. She served as one of Trudeau’s main economic advisers leading up to the election, and was widely touted as being in line for an economic post.
Background: Freeland, MP for the downtown Toronto riding of University-Rosedale, was first elected in a byelection in November 2013. Originally from Alberta, she is of Ukrainian descent and has extensive experience as a journalist. She authored a book in 2012 called The Rise of the New Global Super-Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else that looked at the growing problem of income inequality.
Maryam Monsef
Portfolio: Democratic Institutions
Degree of difficulty: moderate to high
First challenge: Demonstrating true commitment to open government with significant Access to Information reform, all-party oversight of security agencies and, by Friday at the latest, an order for at least one government scientist to speak directly to media.
Why she got the job: Past record with Ontario Public Interest Research Group and of the New Canadians Centre.
Background: Former Peterborough mayoral candidate and co-founder of the Red Pashmina Campaign, a grassroots initiative she helped found while a student at Trent University. It has raised $150,000 to date to support women in Afghanistan. The Peterborough-Kawartha MP speaks English, Farsi and Dari.
Patricia Hajdu
Portfolio: Status of Women
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: Liberals promised to immediately launch a national public inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous woman and girls. Another key file will be a promised federal gender violence strategy and action plan.
Why she got the job: Experience running a large homeless shelter. Having a minister from northwestern Ontario (Thunder Bay-Superior North) is also seen as an indication of the Liberals commitment to the north.
Background: Hadju is a former executive director of the Thunder Bay Shelter House and has spent her career in areas of substance use, harm reduction, housing and public health.
Lawrence MacAulay
Portfolio: Agriculture
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: Assist dairy farmers in adapting to the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade arrangement reached last month between Canada and 11 other countries.
Why he got the job: Plenty of experience; represents a mainly rural riding (Cardigan) in eastern P.E.I.
Background: A P.E.I. native, MacAulay, 59, was first elected to the House of Commons in 1988. He’s a former solicitor general, minister of labour and secretary of state for veterans.
Kirsty Duncan
Portfolio: Science
Degree of difficulty: Low to moderate
First challenge: Restoring the credibility and profile of the federal government’s scientists, who have been effectively muzzled under 10 years of Conservative rule.
Why she got the job: The MP for Etobicoke North is an academic with wide experience in the science of nutrition and climate change.
Background: Former associate professor of health studies at the University of Toronto. Has a doctorate in geography from the University of Edinburgh.
Jean-Yves Duclos
Portfolio: Families, Children and Social Development
Degree of difficulty: High
First challenge: He will be stickhandling a central Liberal promise to create a new monthly Canada Child Benefit for families to replace the Universal Child Care Benefit that was central to the Conservative budget and election campaign.
Why he got the job: An economist, he is one of six Quebecers in cabinet and will be an important voice for the region of Quebec City as the first Liberal elected in his riding since 1984.
Background: He was professor and director of the Department of Economics at Laval University before entering politics. Studied at London School of Economics, headed economics department at Laval and was recently president of the Canadian Economic Association.
Bardish Chagger
Portfolio: Small Business
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: Making sure small businesses get the tax reduction they were promised during the election. Her portfolio is part of the new Innovation Science and Economic Development Ministry.
Why she got the job: Great familiarity with manufacturing and high-tech issues of great concern to small business, much of it learned while serving as executive assistant to her Waterloo riding’s previous Liberal MP, Andrew Telegdi.
Background: University of Waterloo science graduate and community activist. Participated in Liberal Party conference on developing a national manufacturing strategy.
Marie-Claude Bibeau
Portfolio: International Development
Degree of difficulty: Moderate
First challenge: Find the $100 million that Trudeau promised to help the UN High Commission for Refugees provide aid to Syrian refugees. Over the long term, Bibeau will need to match up the new government’s foreign aid priorities and objectives with the UN’s new Sustainable Development Goals and a shrinking aid budget.
Why she got the job: The foreign aid file has often been used to check some boxes in terms of cabinet’s composition. Some will see the inclusion of Bibeau (Compton-Stanstead) as part of Trudeau’s promise to include women, and the party’s desire to have a minister in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. But she did work for several years for the previous Canadian International Development Agency, with postings in Ottawa, Montreal, Morocco and Benin.
Background: After leaving CIDA, she moved back to the Eastern Townships, where she owns a campground and manages a museum. She is the wife of Sherbrooke Mayor Bernard Sevigny.
Carla Qualtrough
Portfolio: Sport and Persons With Disabilities
Degree of difficulty: Mild
First challenge: Issues include encouraging Canadian participation in sports, funding for Canadian Olympic Committee.
Why she got the job: The former Paralympian athlete is a fresh face and female to cabinet and, representing Delta, will be another voice in cabinet for British Columbia.
Background: Visually impaired since birth, Qualtrough is a human rights lawyer and a Paralympic Games medal-winning swimmer. She has worked as vice-chair with the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Tribunal of B.C.; legal counsel for the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal and the Canadian Human Rights Commission and as a mediator and arbitrator. In sports, she is a former president of Canadian Paralympic Committee and has been named one of Canada’s most influential women in sports six times.
— With files from Mark Kennedy, Lee Berthiaume, Chris Cobb, Jason Fekete, Kathryn May, James Bagnall, David Pugliese, Ian Macleod