Scheer announces shadow cabinet
[:en]To some political observers, today’s announcement of new Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s shadow cabinet does more than reveal the roster of Question Period matchups expected this fall when the House of Commons reconvenes. It can also give a glimpse into the new power dynamics at play within Scheer’s Conservative party, provide clues on the new leader’s policy priorities, and even highlights who has been snubbed.
Predictably, eleven of the new shadow cabinet positions have been filled by MPs who endorsed Scheer. Only three of Scheer’s rivals in a crowded leadership race have been denied a position. Most notably, controversial candidate Kellie Leitch did not receive a critic role. Scheer’s fellow Saskatchewan MP Brad Trost, whose support at the convention blew away expectations and helped Scheer narrowly defeat Maxime Bernier, was also excluded. But the move could reignite speculation Trost may be preparing for a leadership run in Saskatchewan where Premier Brad Wall is stepping down as leader of the Saskatchewan Party.
Bernier did not get the role he publicly lobbied for as the shadow minister for Finance, but he says he is pleased to receive another central economic file as the critic for Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED). Bernier also served in Harper’s cabinet as the Minister of Industry, the precursor to ISED, and will be familiar with the issues.
Scheer’s changes reflect a leader who is trying to put his stamp on a party that has only had one leader before him. He is balancing the aspirations of his colleagues, favours owed and the need to field a competent political team as the countdown to the 2019 general election continues.
The cascading changes have essentially overhauled much of the Conservatives’ roster of critics aside from exceptions like Calgary MP Michelle Rempel and veteran Rob Nicholson, who each remained publicly neutral during the leadership race. Scheer, though, has not made any changes to his House of Commons leadership which remains in the hands of leadership rival Lisa Raitt as deputy leader, Whip Mark Strahl, Quebec lieutenant Alain Rayes, House leader Candice Bergen and her deputies Chris Warkentin and John Brassard. In addition, former minister Diane Finley has been named caucus-party liaison.
On a cosmetic note, Scheer is working to position the Conservatives as a government-in-waiting by naming “shadow ministers” rather than the traditional term “critic.” Time will tell which changes will gain traction and which ones won’t stick, but for now Scheer is focused on quickly ushering in his own era as Conservative Leader.
The Question Period Matchups
Andrew Scheer
Leader of the Official Opposition
VS
Right Hon. Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Maxime Bernier
Shadow Minister, Innovation, Science and Economic Development
VS
The Honourable Navdeep Singh Bains
Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Cathy McLeod
Shadow Minister, Crown-Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Indigenous Services and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
VS
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Ziad Aboultaif
Shadow Minister, International Development
VS
The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau
Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
Gérard Deltell
Shadow Minister, Treasury Board
VS
The Honourable Scott Brison
President of the Treasury Board
Shannon Stubbs
Shadow Minister, Natural Resources
VS
The Honourable James Gordon Carr
Minister of Natural Resources
Dan Albas
Shadow Minister, Small Business
VS
The Honourable Bardish Chagger
Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Small Business and Tourism
Dean Allison
Shadow Minister, International Trade
VS
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne
Minister of International Trade
Karen Vecchio
Shadow Minister, Families, Children and Social Development
VS
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Matt Jeneroux
Shadow Minister, Science
VS
The Honourable Kirsty Duncan
Minister of Science
Erin O’Toole
Shadow Minister, Foreign Affairs
VS
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Kelly Block
Shadow Minister, Transport
VS
The Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport
Pierre Paul-Hus
Shadow Minister, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
VS
The Honourable Ralph Goodale
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Scott Reid
Shadow Minister, Democratic Institutions
VS
The Honourable Karina Gould
Minister of Democratic Institutions
Dianne Watts
Shadow Minister, Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
VS
The Honourable Patricia A. Hajdu
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
Alexander Nuttall
Shadow Minister, Youth, Sport and Persons with Disabilities
VS
The Honourable Kent Hehr
Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
Michelle Rempel
Shadow Minister, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
VS
The Honourable Ahmed D. Hussen
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Peter Van Loan
Shadow Minister, Canadian Heritage and National Historic Sites
VS
The Honourable Mélanie Joly
Minister of Canadian Heritage
Todd Doherty
Shadow Minister, Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and the Asia-Pacific Gateway
VS
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Pat Kelly
Shadow Minister, National Revenue
VS
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier
Minister of National Revenue
Luc Berthold
Shadow Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food
VS
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Ed Fast
Shadow Minister, Environment and Climate Change
VS
The Honourable Catherine McKenna
Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Pierre Poilievre
Shadow Minister, Finance and National Capital Commission
VS
The Honourable William Francis Morneau
Minister of Finance
Rachel Harder
Shadow Minister, Status of Women
VS
The Honourable Maryam Monsef
Minister of Status of Women
Steven Blaney
Shadow Minister, Veterans Affairs
VS
The Honourable Seamus O’Regan
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Marilyn Gladu
Shadow Minister, Health
VS
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Health
Cathy McLeod
Shadow Minister, Crown-Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Indigenous Services and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
VS
The Honourable Jane Philpott
Minister of Indigenous Services
Tony Clement
Shadow Minister, Public Services and Procurement
VS
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Public Services and Procurement
James Bezan
Shadow Minister, National Defence
VS
The Honourable Harjit Singh Sajjan
Minister of National Defence
Michael Chong
Shadow Minister, Infrastructure, Communities and Urban Affairs
VS
The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
Rob Nicholson
Shadow Minister, Justice
VS
The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Other Critic Roles:
- John Barlow, Agriculture and Agri-Food (Associate)
- Peter Kent, Ethics
- Rob Moore, Atlantic Issues and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
- Alain Rayes, Intergovernmental Affairs
- Bob Saroya, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (Associate)
- Alice Wong, Seniors
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