All ministers are full cabinet members, Liberals say

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, fifth from left, and Governor General David Johnston, centre, pose for a group photo with the new Liberal cabinet at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

OTTAWA -- The new Liberal government says all of its ministers are full members of cabinet -- contrary to suggestions otherwise.

Justin Trudeau's 30 cabinet members were billed as ministers upon being sworn in Wednesday. The new prime minister made good on a promise of gender parity, appointing 15 men and 15 women.

In response to an inquiry that day, the Prime Minister's Office said all had equal standing, with none categorized as junior ministers, a common feature of previous governments.

But subsequently published orders-in-council designated five members -- all of them women -- as ministers of state, prompting further questions about their actual status.

They are Carla Qualtrough in Sport and Persons with Disabilities, Patricia Hajdu in Status of Women, Kirsty Duncan in Science, and Bardish Chagger in Small Business and Tourism. In addition, Marie-Claude Bibeau was named a minister of state for La Francophonie as well as becoming International Development minister.

Ministers of state receive $60,000 in addition to their MP's salary, compared with $80,100 for ministers. They also lack full ministerial powers.

However, the Liberals say the designations were a technicality -- the women in question are full members of cabinet, carry the title of minister, were always intended as such, and will receive benefits and supports commensurate with those of their colleagues.

The five women were appointed under the Ministries and Ministers of State Act to ensure they have access to the support of existing departments, as new organizations are not being created, officials said Friday.

For instance, Hajdu's portfolio, Status of Women, is attached to that of the Canadian Heritage minister and Bibeau's La Francophonie responsibilities are linked to the newly named Global Affairs Canada, formerly Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.

"I understand that they are full ministers," said Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion. "I will have the great pleasure to work with minister Bibeau, and I may tell you she is not junior in my mind one minute."

Coming statutory changes will legally cement the ministerial status of those temporarily branded ministers of state and salary adjustments will be retroactive, one official said.

The five members will lead on a number of federal priorities, the government says. Of these, Qualtrough's responsibility for disabled persons and Duncan's science portfolio are seen as deliberate efforts to make new policy strides.

During a news conference, Dion stressed that those working in the International Development portfolio "are on the same footing" as everyone else in the Lester B. Pearson Building, home of Global Affairs, drawing applause and cheers from onlooking bureaucrats.

Liberal ministers will be working with public servants who weathered an often stormy relationship with the Harper government.

Debi Daviau, president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service, said she received a call from new Treasury Board President Scott Brison -- who succeeded Conservative Tony Clement -- the day after he was appointed.

"I think we are off to an excellent start in that regard," Daviau said Friday. "Over the past two years, Tony Clement couldn't be bothered to pick up the phone and discuss issues with me."

The Liberal elimination of several ministers of state with responsibility for regional development agencies under the previous government had led to speculation about the future of those institutions.

The Privy Council Office issued a statement Friday saying Navdeep Singh Bains, minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, would oversee the six regional agencies.

Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef will be responsible for matters relating to the electoral system, including Elections Canada.

The Liberal portfolio revamp means the title of a minister and the name of their department won't always match.

Jean-Yves Duclos, minister of Families, Children and Social Development, for example, will head the existing Employment and Social Development Canada, the Privy Council Office said.