This morning, Prime Minister Trudeau swore in his new cabinet at Rideau Hall. While Chrystia Freeland remains as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the new federal cabinet is full of surprising picks and new faces.

The Prime Minister has maintained gender parity in cabinet and regional representation and diversity also factored strongly in his choices. Women have been elevated to many of the senior portfolios in this cabinet with Freeland at Finance, Melanie Joly taking up foreign affairs, and Anita Anand at National Defence.

Key portfolios of importance to the credit union sector remained stable with Mary Ng keeping her job as Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development. Carla Qualtrough will remain as Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion. In addition, Diane Lebouthillier remains as Minister of National Revenue. These ministers are responsible for many of the current (and possible future) COVID-19 relief programs.

Several new portfolios were created – notably for credit unions Ahmed Hussein was named as the new Minister of Housing, in addition to the Diversity and Inclusion portfolio. Albertan MP Randy Bissonault got his first cabinet appointment as the Minister of Tourism (a new portfolio) as well taking on responsibility as the Associate Minister of Finance. 

Mona Fortier, formerly the Minister for Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance, was promoted as President of the Treasury Board. Karina Gould has been named as the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, which intersects with much of the credit union sector’s social impact work. Gudie Hutchings, a Newfoundland Member of Parliament who has been a credit union champion in the past, was appointed Minister for Rural Economic Development, a relevant portfolio given credit unions’ strong representation in rural Canada.

While Trudeau brought back some former Ministers including Ginette Petitpas Taylor, there were a number of prominent MPs who were passed over for cabinet, including former Ontario cabinet ministers Yasir Naqvi and Marie-France Lalonde and longtime Liberal MP Greg Fergus. 

Parliament is due to return November 22 and the government will face questions about its COVID recovery programs. Mandate letters for the new ministers are expected in the coming weeks and will outline key priorities for each member of cabinet.

CCUA has begun outreach to congratulate MPs on their election. We will also write to ministers in portfolios of importance to credit unions to congratulate them on their appointment to cabinet, outline opportunities for partnership with the sector and to arrange meetings to discuss key advocacy priorities for the upcoming Parliament.