THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby
Following a near-majority election win, Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled his new cabinet, featuring bench strength from across the country. It is made up of experienced hands in top roles alongside a new generation of ministers. Staying true to his promise for a leaner cabinet focused on economic priorities, Carney implemented a two-tiered cabinet structure.
But what does it mean?
The bottom line: this new cabinet is intended to address a widely perceived lack of business experience in the previous cabinets of Prime Minister Trudeau. With a core group of senior cabinet ministers leading the decision-making process across departments, ideally starting to streamline a process that desperately needs to be more efficient and proactive.
Not all ministers are ministers. This tiered approach is by design by Prime Minister Carney: concentrate the collective oversight and power under a tight group.
To this end, a key change is the reinstatement of Secretaries of State – junior members who do not hold full portfolios but are assigned to assist senior ministers on specific issues. These appointments aim to enhance efficiency by allowing senior ministers to meet without needing full ministerial consultation. At the same time, these roles support regional representation and gender parity, reinforcing the Prime Minister’s strategic priorities.
New faces, regional considerations
Reflecting the importance of national unity and energy development, the western provinces are represented by several ministers, including former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson in infrastructure and housing, newly elected Saskatchewan MP Buckley Belanger, and Edmonton MP Eleanor Olszewski to emergency management. Quebec is also represented in cabinet, notably with Steven Guilbeault taking on the new role of Minister of Canadian Identify and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages.
The energy portfolio is in the experienced hands of Minister Tim Hodgson, who is a former chairperson of Hydro One. Hodgson brings significant corporate experience and a close working relationship with the Prime Minister, having previously served as Special Advisor to Carney during his tenure as Governor of the Bank of Canada.
Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne resumes his role as Minister of Finance and National Revenue, a position he briefly held prior to the election. Though no budget will be tabled this spring, Minister Champagne noted his top priority will be to enact the Prime Minister's middle-class tax cut promise. Over the Victoria Day long weekend, Prime Minister Carney confirmed "[w]e will have a much more comprehensive, effective, ambitious, prudent budget in the fall," after facing significant criticism from Opposition parties at the prospect of waiting a year for a look into federal finances.
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who’s resignation was the first in a cascade of events that led to Carney becoming Prime Minister, remains in cabinet as Minister of Transport and Internal Trade – a portfolio she has described as “sexy.” Minister Freeland has already met with Premiers Ford and Houston, both vocal advocates on internal trade reform, to discuss actions ahead.
Importantly, Dominic LeBlanc, a close confidant and de facto right-hand man to the Prime Minister, takes on dual responsibilities for Canada-U.S. trade and meeting the July 1st deadline for internal trade reform.
Finally, this is a cabinet designed to move quickly and achieve results. Central to the Prime Minister’s economic growth plans, key portfolios such as U.S.-Canada relations, international trade and internal trade, and infrastructure portfolios are assigned to experienced ministers with proven track records.
Key senior ministers:
- Dominic Leblanc, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy
- Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue
- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
- David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
- Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
Secretaries of State – Supporting Emerging and Targeted Priorities:
- Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development)
- Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)
- Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)
Alongside a leaner cabinet, Cabinet Committees have also been revamped to reflect the Prime Minister’s top priorities. Among the nine new committees are:
- National Security Council
- Build Canada
- Government Transformation and Efficiency
- Secure and Sovereign Canada
- Quality of Life and Well-Being
Importantly, this is also a key switch: the Trudeau team had double the committees, and it can be argued that the structure was bogged down in too many discussions, and too little action and execution of commitments.
What’s next?
Prime Minister Carney is progressing swiftly through the transition, aiming to restore full federal operations by early June. Ministers are currently receiving departmental briefings, hiring staff, and preparing for a high-intensity spring session of Parliament.
Over the next two weeks, the government’s key priorities include: * Hosting our sovereign, King Charles, for the Speech from the Throne on May 27, anticipated to pass the government’s first confidence vote with ease. * Introducing a new middle class tax cut via a ways and means motion in Parliament. * A First Ministers meeting in parallel to the Council of the Federation meeting June 2-3 in Saskatchewan working towards “Free Trade by Canada Day”. * Welcoming G7 leaders in Kananaskis, Albera June 15-17, including U.S. President Trump.
NATIONAL’s pan-Canadian public affairs team is briefing clients across multiple sectors on what to expect from a new Carney government. Please reach out – we would be pleased to connect.
