New hands or old faces? All eyes on Carney's cabinet picks
Desire to distance himself from Trudeau years will influence Carney's cabinet picks, pundits say
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OTTAWA — With the prime minister set to unveil his first cabinet Tuesday, all eyes are on if he’s sticking with the past or looking toward the future.
Most pundits agree that Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet picks will no doubt set the tone in this post-Justin Trudeau era — or, more plainly, how much will he retain from his predecessor’s cabinet in favour of new blood.
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“Canada needs cabinet ministers who will bring urgency and thoughtful action, rather than words and more empty promises, to address our most pressing issues,” former MP Kevin Vuong told the Toronto Sun.
“I predict we will see new faces — Prime Minister Carney cannot claim he is the harbinger of change if he continues to put forward the same Trudeau ministers.”
While Liberal strategist Sharan Kaur declined to name names, she agreed that Carney needs to put considerable distance between his administration and the one that came before it.
“What’s clear is that Prime Minister Carney is focused on turning the page and distancing this government from the Trudeau era,” she said.
“The strong mandate Canadians have given the Liberals signals a desire for change — and we can expect to see that reflected in his refreshed cabinet.”
Roles up for recasting, Vuong said, include a new immigration minister dedicated to repair the damage caused by a decade of bad immigration policy.
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That portfolio was overseen by no less than five ministers during the Trudeau years with Carney appointing Rachel Bendayan to the role just before the election.
Another role that needs new blood is public safety minister, another high-turnover cabinet post that saw five faces throughout the Trudeau years and was mostly recently held by David McGuinty — a Trudeau-era appointee who Carney kept on.
“We need someone who will confront the threat of foreign interference with the seriousness that it deserves,” Vuong said.
“I also hope the prime minister will ensure every mandate letter includes a requirement for a more efficient and effective department with clear accountability for every minister who is unable to achieve their objectives. Canadians deserve value for their hard-earned tax dollars and we deserve a responsible government who recognizes that paying more to service the interest on our debt than our military is not only fiscally irresponsible, it endangers Canadians, our country and our way of life.”
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