Danielle Smith fumes over Mark Carney's cabinet choices

Calgary Herald

13-05-2025

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Olszewski was named the Liberal candidate for Edmonton Centre after the election writ was dropped. She was shuffled into the riding by the Liberal Party of Canada after former cabinet minister Randy Boissonnault announced he would not stand for re-election. Olszewski, the former chair of the federal Liberal Party's Alberta wing, had been nominated to run in Edmonton Strathcona, where she likely would have been a sacrificial lamb in a riding that's a New Democrat stronghold.
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Olszewski raised her family in Glenora before moving south of the river. She's has a bachelor of science – pharmacy and a law doctorate from the University of Alberta. Because of her background in both pharmacy and law, she has worked on drug and medical-claim cases.
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'I do want to be a very strong advocate for the people of Edmonton Centre,' she pledged during the election campaign, 'I've spent my career being an advocate and speaking out for people who don't have a voice. or are trying to operate in a system that can seem unfair or can seem really complicated and frustrating. It's important for me to take those skills, and I think I've learned a lot of skills from being a lawyer for a long period of time, to a different place. I want to advocate not just for the people of this riding but for the people of Alberta and Canada, as well.'
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Olszewski said that 'this is a time for unity' and that she looked forward to helping Carney implement 'thoughtful and sensible plans to protect families and workers and to save businesses across the country, and, most importantly save our Canadian way of life and our sovereignty.'
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Mike Ellis, the province's minister of public safety and emergency services, had a more conciliatory take than Smith. He said the Alberta government will have an open mind when it comes to the new cabinet.
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'I'll just echo what the premier has indicated here, that we just want to reset the relationship with Ottawa,' he said. 'I think all of my cabinet colleagues are looking forward to that. I think we're all looking forward to reaching out to all of our cabinet colleagues in the federal government. Eleanor, I don't know her. I look forward to meeting her. I know that I've already asked my staff to reach out to her so we can co-ordinate, have a conversation. So I certainly look forward to that.'
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Olszewski is one of 24 Liberal MPs who are new to cabinet.
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'We are in a position where we have cabinet ministers from all the provinces. I'm very proud of that,' Carney said outside of Rideau Hall. 'And, a full cabinet member from the territories. So, we're governing for all Canadians, all regions, with a strong and clear mandate that came out of the election.
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Carney said having a 'half and half' balance of experienced rookie and veteran cabinet ministers is ideal, as he tiptoed the line between preserving the Liberal brand and not falling into the trap of being seen as a continuation of the Trudeau government.
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'To me, it's perfect.'
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