Carney was sworn in at a ceremony held at Rideau Hall on Friday five days after winning the leadership of the Liberal Party.
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Ottawa – The cabinet of newly sworn Prime Minister Mark Carney may only be called in the election for a short time, but he made some interesting changes to the minister’s responsibilities.
Carney announced his cabinet pick Friday at the swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall five days after winning the Liberal leadership.
With Canada’s seven former ministers not seeking reelection in the trade war, Carney narrowed the Federal Freedom Commission to 24, including him, a scale of 37 years older than Justin Trudeau’s previous size, who officially resigned on Friday.
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A slim cabinet means the former minister was removed from his post and if not completely excluded, some portfolios were merged together. These are five notable changes in Carney’s Cabinet.
Missing government departments
On Friday, some compelling, politically sensitive portfolios were excluded from the Carney Cabinet.
That’s the case with women, gender equality and youth, the last portfolio held by Toronto Congressman Marci Ien, who announced she would not seek reelection.
Trudeau made an independent portfolio and mental health and addiction disappeared, as did diversity, inclusion and disability, and exercise.
In many cases, these documents are not their own department. This is the case with mental health and addiction held by Toronto MP Ya’ara Saks, part of Health Canada.
In departments such as Canada Finance and Health Canada, many of the priority Trudeaus have been appointed under the banner of women and gender equality. But women and gender equality are their own sectors.
Abandoning such a portfolio marks Trudeau’s attitude toward the cabinet, a team that assembles a person who shows that its value is not only progressive, but also a feminist government.
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Speaking to reporters on Friday, Carney said protecting workers is one of the cabinet’s smaller priorities, especially in the face of U.S. tariffs, business and union leaders fear that this would lead to mass layoffs.
But Lana Payne, the president of the unified country, went to social media and pointed out that the Labour Party’s portfolio has also been removed.
Identity Crisis
Carney’s cabinet does not include any ministers of LGBTQ. It does seem to be within a staggering distance of gender parity, which is Trudeau’s priority.
The new cabinet also lacks some geographical representation, and there is no Alberta minister on Friday. When asked about the omissions and whether he could run for a seat in Alberta, Carney would not promise.
“I grew up in Alberta and started a campaign in Alberta, but today, this story is behind me.”
No deputy prime minister
Carney has not yet named the Deputy Prime Minister, thus shaking another tradition of Trudeau.
The position was previously held by newly named Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland from 2019 to 2024. Freeland’s shocking resignation in December was the catalyst for the caucus uprising to ultimately lower Trudeau.
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Trudeau performed his first term from 2015 to 2019, without a deputy prime minister, the position is uncertain and has no responsibilities in any department.
Canadian culture has grown in Quebec…
Carney also told reporters that he wanted to be responsible by designating Steven GuilbeaultCanadian culture and identity”, as well as Canadian Parks and Quebec Lieutenant.
This character is one of the few new members in Carney’s slim cabinetry.
Previously, the document was called the Canadian Heritage and it remains the name of a sprawling department that has missions from arts and community funding to CBC/Radio-Canada and official languages.
No more hugs
During the cleanest breaks of the Trudeau era, Carney’s cabinet minister was not given a hug at Friday’s ceremony.
After the hug ceremony in 2015, some journalists started timing and counting their arms, which may be uncomfortable at times. MacLean noted in 2019 that Freeland will continue to inspire Trudeau’s resignation, one of the few preachers who did not get their boss’ embrace.
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On Friday, Carney appeared to have put in a policy of not embracing when his cabinet was sworn in.
Regardless, tradition may have been declining. Trudeau’s longest hug was 12 seconds in 2015, and in 2019, it was only six seconds.
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