5 things you might have missed in Trudeau's cabinet shakeup
There were some obvious storylines out of Tuesday’s cabinet shakeup, including new faces in the health, foreign affairs, and national defence portfolios, but some other interesting takeaways may have flown under the radar.
Here are five key points you might have missed:
THE MINISTER FOR SENIORS IS THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF CABINET
At just 32, the Brampton West MP Kamal Khera will head the seniors file. Khera is also a registered nurse, which makes her an appropriate fit for the role. Among other roles, she has served as the parliamentary secretary to the minister of health.
Khera replaces Deb Schulte, who was defeated in the 2021 election.
Exiting her first cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Khera said “As a young woman of colour, I look forward to bringing that perspective. Seniors built this country for us and it’s time for us to make sure that they have the resources and the services they need.”
FIRST-EVER MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the former Crown-Indigenous relations minister Carolyn Bennett would become the first-ever minister of mental health and addiction.
Bennett was a family physician prior to becoming an MP in 1997. She will also serve as associate minister of health in the 44th Parliament.
The Liberals made specific mental health-focused election promises, including pledging nearly $5 billion to the provinces and territories to enhance services through a new permanent transfer.
TRUDEAU CONFIRMS INTENTION TO KEEP LEADING PARTY
Asked on Tuesday whether the he would lead the party into the next election, whenever that may be, Trudeau responded, simply, “yes.”
Some political pundits have speculated this past election could have been Trudeau’s last, having led the party through three campaigns.
Minority governments typically last around 18 months in Canada.
PRAIRIES HAVE SAME RATE OF REPRESENTATION AS N.L.
In a move that’s drawing criticism from some political leaders in the West, Trudeau wiped out the role of special representative for the Prairies from cabinet. It had been held previously by Winnipeg-based MP Jim Carr.
Now, the Prairies and Newfoundland and Labrador have equal representation on the front bench.
Dan Vandal, another Winnipeg-based MP, will remain as minster of northern affairs and minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, and Edmonton-based MP Randy Boissonnault becomes minister of tourism and associate minister of finance.
Meanwhile, St. John's MP Seamus O’Regan, formerly the natural resources minister, goes to labour and Long Range Mountains MP Gudie Hutchings becomes the minister of rural economic development.
NO MORE MIDDLE-CLASS PROSPERITY OR DIGITAL GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES
The shakeup also sunsetted two ministerial positions: minister of middle-class prosperity and minister of digital government.
The former was held by now President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier and the latter was held by now Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray.
Shortly after being appointed to her previous role, Fortier struggled to properly communicate what the government defined as middle class and then stated in the House of Commons that "Canada has no official statistical measure of what constitutes the middle class."
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
'He's in our hearts': Family and friends still seek answers one year after Nathan Wise’s disappearance
It’s been a year since Nathan Wise went missing and his family is no closer to finding out what happened to him.
Ottawa pizzeria places among top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world at international competition
An Ottawa pizzeria is being recognized as one of the top 20 deep-dish pizzas in the world.
Canada Post cracks down on Nunavut loophole to get free Amazon Prime shipping
Amazon's paid subscription service provides free delivery for online shopping across Canada except for remote locations, the company said in an email. While customers in Iqaluit qualify for the offer, all other communities in Nunavut are excluded.
Mother's Day movies that pull at ALL the heartstrings
This Mother's Day Weekend, take a look at some of the most emotional movies inspired by moms.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Edibles, armchairs and adapters: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.
Putin replaces Russian defence minister in rare cabinet shakeup
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin began a Cabinet shakeup on Sunday, proposing the replacement of Sergei Shoigu as defence minister as he begins his fifth term in office.
WATCH Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Local Spotlight
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
Federal government bans watercraft from Manitoba lake popular with tourists
The threat of zebra mussels has prompted the federal government to temporarily ban watercraft from a Manitoba lake popular with tourists.
Toronto-area dessert shop featured by Keith Lee forced to move after zoning complaint
A small Ajax dessert shop that recently received a glowing review from celebrity food critic Keith Lee is being forced to move after a zoning complaint was made following the social media influencer’s visit last month.
'Oh Crap!' New exhibit at Canada Science and Technology Museum explores human waste
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is inviting visitors to explore their poop. A new exhibition opens at the Ottawa museum on Friday called, 'Oh Crap! Rethinking human waste.'
Regina police hope new biometric monitoring system will save lives in detention facility
The Regina Police Service says it is the first in Saskatchewan and possibly Canada to implement new technology in its detention facility that will offer real-time monitoring of detainees’ vital health metrics.
Her SUV was stolen in Montreal. A Good Samaritan on Facebook helped her get it back
Just as she had feared, a restaurant owner from eastern Quebec who visited Montreal had her SUV stolen, but says it was all thanks to the kindness of strangers on the internet — not the police — that she got it back.
Vancouver and Edmonton's mayors bet on who will win Round 2 of the playoffs. Here's what's at stake
The stakes have been set for a bet between Vancouver and Edmonton's mayors on who will win Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
'No other life taken': Mother leads ATV helmet drive to honour daughter's legacy
A grieving mother is hosting a helmet drive in the hopes of protecting children on Manitoba First Nations from a similar tragedy that killed her daughter.