Latest news with #KamalKhera
CBC
18-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Advocates call absence of disability ministry in PM's new cabinet 'a real slap in the face'
Social Sharing When Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his new cabinet this week, one notable position was omitted from the roster: the minister of diversity, inclusion and persons with disabilities. Pre-election, the position was held by Kamal Khera, who lost her Brampton West seat to the Conservative Party's Amarjeet Gill. Instead of naming a new minister, the position was, in effect, abolished. Now, people with disabilities and those supporting them are raising concerns about what this will mean for federal policy moving forward. "For the Prime Minister to do this is a real slap in the face to eight million people with disabilities in Canada," said disability rights professor David Lepofsky. He said the move signals to people with disabilities that they are not a priority. According to Statistics Canada, about 27 per cent of Canadians 15 and over identify as having one or more disabilities. Lepofsky said that number will only increase as the population ages. Carissa Thorpe, who suffers from chronic pain, said she worries the omission will set people with disabilities back. "It feels dangerous to me because people with disabilities are the most vulnerable in society, and we are already very far behind most of the rest of society," she told CBC's The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn. "Nobody's going to be thinking of us." 'No watchdog' Lepofsky, who is blind, said not having a minister dedicated to this work means that issues that go before cabinet, often behind closed doors, won't be viewed through the lens of someone who is focused on ensuring people with disabilities are included in everything. "There's no watchdog there anymore to pipe up and say, 'Hey, what are you doing to make sure you're not creating new barriers with this initiative, or why did you leave people with disabilities out?'" For example, he said, the affordable housing crisis requires consideration of those who require accessible housing, too. "There's no one at the cabinet table to ensure that when they come forward with this kind of new strategy that the accessible housing crisis is effectively included in it and addressed by it." WATCH | Calls for improved Canadian Disability Benefit: Advocates urge next government to improve Canada Disability Benefit 1 month ago Duration 2:04 That housing component especially rings true for Thorpe. She said the last stable housing she had was a small converted shed in someone's backyard, with no running water and stairs that she fell down several times. The $1,552 she gets in disability payments each month has made it difficult for her to find both accessible and affordable housing that is also safe. Having no cabinet minister responsible for disability doesn't just impact future policy, said Yat Li, a B.C.-based advocate who is hard of hearing, "it threatens to unravel years of hard-won progress led by former ministers who took over this portfolio, specifically advancing accessibility and disability in Canada," he said. "We cannot let this recent news take us a step backwards. Even though the cabinet ministry doesn't include a minister of disability, we need to continue to have a collective voice, continue to urge and ensure that a cabinet minister is explicitly tasked with the responsibility of advancing disability rights in Canada." Add disability to another portfolio, Lepofsky suggests Lepofsky is also the chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, which is calling on Canadians to email the prime minister's office to express their thoughts on the lack of a disability minister. He said the group would be happy if disability were added to one of the existing portfolios, but doesn't want to see the issue given to a secretary of state. "They are not full cabinet members. They don't go to all cabinet meetings. We need a watchdog in every cabinet meeting."
CBC
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Carney shows 10 ministers from his first cabinet the door
Prime Minister Mark Carney's new cabinet has taken shape without 11 of the ministers he brought around the table barely two months ago. On the outs are former defence minister Bill Blair, former president of the Treasury Board Ginette Petitpas Taylor and former energy and natural resources minister Jonathan Wilkinson. All of those experienced ministers held numerous posts under former prime minister Justin Trudeau and remained in Carney's first cabinet. Three other MPs that Carney only elevated to cabinet on March 14 have been removed: Nova Scotia MP Kody Blois and Ontario MPs Arielle Kayabaga and Ali Ehsassi. Carney also chose to drop some ministers appointed by Trudeau late last year and had remained in cabinet until now: Winnipeg MP Terry Duguid, Toronto MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and Quebec MPs Élisabeth Brière and Rachel Bendayan And former minister and Ontario MP for Brampton West, Kamal Khera, failed to win her seat in last month's election. She first joined cabinet as minister of seniors in 2021. Trudeau then moved Khera to the role of minister of diversity, inclusion and persons with disabilities in 2023 before Carney shifted her once again, making her health minister when he built his first cabinet March 14. Here is a deeper look at some of the ministers not returning to cabinet: Jonathan Wilkinson Wilkinson — who was reappointed as minister of energy and natural resources when Prime Minister Mark Carney swore in his first cabinet March 14 — was first elected to the B.C. riding of North Vancouver in 2015. Re-elected in 2019 and 2021, Wilkinson won a fourth term in the redrawn riding of North Vancouver-Capilano last month. He served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of Environment and Climate Change starting in December 2015, but was soon promoted to cabinet. In 2018, he was made minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard before being made the minister of environment and climate change in 2019. He was made minister of natural resources in 2021, and minister of energy and natural resources in 2023. In a statement posted on his X account, Wilkinson thanked both Carney and Trudeau, along with the voters who put him into office, for giving him the chance to serve in cabinet. "Four times you have placed your trust in me to represent your interests and lead with purpose here in the riding but also on the national and international stages," he said. "It has been and remains the privilege of a lifetime." Tim Hodgson is the new minister of energy and natural resources. Bill Blair Blair was first elected as the Ontario MP for Scarborough Southwest in the 2015 federal election, and was re-elected in 2019, 2021 and 2025. In 2023, Blair, a former police chief, took over the defence portfolio from Anita Anand, after serving as the minister for emergency preparedness from October 2021 until July 2023. Before that he sat at the cabinet table in two separate roles including minister of public safety and emergency preparedness and the minister of border security and organized crime reduction. He has also served as the President of the King's Privy Council of Canada. David McGuinty, the former public safety minister, is the new minister of national defence. Ginette Petitpas Taylor Petitpas Taylor won the New Brunswick riding of Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe in 2015, 2019 and 2021. She won her fourth straight election last month in the re-constituted riding of Moncton-Dieppe. She has been an active committee member in Parliament, chairing the subcommittee on procedure and House affairs. Shortly after the 2015 election Trudeau made her deputy government whip before elevating her to health minister in August 2017. She was dropped from cabinet the first time in 2019. Petitpas Taylor returned to cabinet in 2021 and went on to preside over a number of ministries including: official languages, veterans affairs and employment, workforce development and official languages. Trudeau made Petitpas Taylor president of the Treasury Board in December, a role she kept when Carney unveiled his first cabinet in March. Shafqat Ali is the new president of the Treasury Board. Arielle Kayabaga Kayabaga served as Carney's Government House Leader — while Parliament wasn't sitting — and is one of the cabinet members being dropped after sitting at the top table for barely two months. In a statement posted on X, she said that while she won't be returning to cabinet, she remains "deeply honoured to have had the opportunity to serve as a member" of Carney's team. Kayabaga was first elected in the Ontario riding of London West in the 2021 federal election, leaving behind a seat on the London city council to make the jump to Parliament. Kayabaga came to Canada as an 11-year-old refugee with her mother and siblings after her family fled Burundi during that country's civil war. She sat on a number of committees including health, citizenship and immigration, science and research and official languages. Kayabaga was made parliamentary secretary to the minister of small business in February 2025 by Trudeau. Carney elevated her to serve as the Government House Leader and minister of democratic institutions in his March 14 cabinet. Former labour minister Steven MacKinnon is the new leader of the Government in the House of Commons. Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Erskine-Smith developed a reputation as a bit of a maverick MP over the last decade demonstrating that he is unafraid to vote against his Liberal colleagues when he felt his party's legislative offering was out of step with his values. First elected to the Toronto riding of Beaches-East York in 2015, and re-elected in 2019 and 2021, Erskine-Smith launched a leadership bid for the Ontario Liberal Party in 2023. A year after coming in second to Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, he announced that he would not defend his Beaches-East York seat. In December, Trudeau named him as his new housing minister after Nova Scotia MP Sean Fraser announced he, too, would not be running again. When Carney announced his March cabinet, Erskine-Smith held onto the housing file. Fraser and Erskine-Smith both changed their minds about running in the 2025 federal election and subsequently won their respective seats. Fraser returned to cabinet as the minister of justice and attorney general of Canada. The new housing minister is former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
How Health Minister Kamal Khera lost in Liberal stronghold of Brampton West
Liberal candidate and Canada's Health Minister, Kamal Khera , lost her seat in Brampton West during the 2025 federal election . Khera had a neck-and-neck fight with Conservative candidate Amarjeet Gill and was eventually defeated. She secured 47.5% of the vote compared to Gill's 49.96%. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack The groundwork before India mounts a strike at Pakistan India considers closing airspace to Pakistani carriers amid rising tensions Cold Start: India's answer to Pakistan's nuclear threats She was among the youngest females to be elected as a member of Parliament in Canadian history when she won in 2015. 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo She has previously served as Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities and as Minister of Seniors. She also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue, and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health. Live Events In March 2025, she was appointed as the Minister of Health and became the only Indian-born member of Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney's newly sworn in cabinet. Local efforts vs. national sentiment Khera is a registered nurse whose active involvement in frontline healthcare during the pandemic, including volunteering at long-term care facilities and administering vaccines, boosted her public appeal. However, her defeat may also be seen as broader national concerns that overshadowed local efforts. The Liberal government's handling of healthcare and debates over privatization and funding may have influenced voter sentiment . Additionally, past controversies, such as her unauthorized travel during pandemic restrictions and limited parliamentary engagement, have also been widely criticized. Amarjeet Gill's campaign strategy Amarjeet Gill's campaign focused on both the local and national discourse. He was vocal about increasing funds for local hospitals. Gill's campaign was also boosted by the Conservative Party's national election agenda, which included the income tax cut, dental, and childcare programme, giving him the edge. Implications for the Liberal Party Kamal Khera is the only sitting minister to lose, dealing a setback to the Liberal Party which otherwise has a great election, returning to power for the fourth consecutive term. As the party reflects on this outcome, it may need to reassess its strategies to rebuild trust and support in key ridings like Brampton West.
Global News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Canada election 2025: Brampton West
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Brampton West is a federal riding located in Ontario. This riding is currently represented by Liberal MP Kamal Khera who first took office in 2021. Khera collected 25,780 votes, winning 55.31 per cent of the vote in the 2021 federal election. Voters will decide who will represent Brampton West in Ontario during the upcoming Canadian election on April 28, 2025. Visit this page on election night for a complete breakdown of up to the minute results. Candidates Liberal: Kamal Khera (Incumbent) Conservative: Amarjeet Gill NDP: Zaigham Javed Green: Sameera Khan Centrist Party: Khawaja Amir Hassan
CBC
22-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Free dental care accessibility expanded for millions of Canadians ahead of election
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has been expanded to include millions of eligible Canadians between the ages of 18 and 64, federal Health Minister Kamal Khera announced on Saturday. Applicants will be eligible if they have no access to dental insurance, have filed their 2024 tax return and have a family net income below $90,000. They'll be able to apply for the CDCP in May and could receive coverage as early as June 1.
