The federal cabinet that will decide the fate of the Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal proposed on Lelu Island is now in place, including several new faces to the House of Commons filling key roles for the North Coast.
Justin Trudeau was sworn in as Canada’s 23rd Prime Minister on Wednesday morning and announced the MPs who will form his cabinet.
Catherine McKenna, who represents the Ottawa Centre riding, has been named the Minister of Environment. McKenna is one of several first-term MPs appointed to the
Cabinet.
The role of Fisheries Minister, who is also responsible for the Canadian Coast Guard, will fall to another rookie MP. Hunter Tootoo of Nunavut, who served in several cabinet positions in the province, has been named to the role.
Another rookie MP with ties to provincial politics has been sworn-in as the Minister of Natural Resources. Jim Carr, who served in the Manitoba Legislature from 1988 to 1992 and was elected this year in the Winnipeg Centre South riding, will fill the role in the new federal government.
One crucial role that will be filled by a veteran MP is that of Indigenous and Northern Affairs. Carolyn Bennett, who has been victorious for the Liberal Party in every election dating back to 1997 in the riding now dubbed Toronto - St. Paul’s, will take on the portfolio.
Trudeau himself, in addition to being Prime Minister, will fill the role of Minister of Youth and Minister of Interprovincial Affairs.
Meanwhile, NDP leader Tom Mulcair has yet to indicate what role Skeena - Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen will fill. Cullen, who has served the riding since 2004, was the finance critic for the Official Opposition when Parliament was dissolved leading into the election.