13-05-2025
Quebecers take key posts in Mark Carney's new federal cabinet
Canadian Politics
Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his new cabinet Tuesday, drawing on seasoned Quebec veterans and political newcomers, with several rookie MPs awarded key roles, and one conspicuously passed over.
With seven of 28 cabinet posts going to Quebec MPs, the province that embraced Carney last month maintains significant clout in Ottawa.
Carney's picks reflect a deliberate balance of continuity and change.
Four of his Quebec ministers are Trudeau-era cabinet holdovers.
François-Philippe Champagne kept his role as finance minister and added the national revenue portfolio.
Mélanie Joly moved from foreign affairs to the industry ministry, with responsibility for the economic development of Quebec's regions.
The assignment places her at the forefront as Canada grapples with economic turmoil triggered by the trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Steven Guilbeault kept his role as the minister of Canadian identity and culture. Carney also gave him the official languages portfolio — a role whose absence from his initial cabinet drew criticism in Quebec.
Steven MacKinnon, another Quebecer, will be the government leader in the House of Commons. He was previously responsible for jobs and families.
Three new Quebec faces joined the cabinet:
Marjorie Michel, a deputy chief of staff to former prime minister Justin Trudeau, who went on to replace him as the MP for Papineau, was named health minister. She's a first-time MP.
Mandy Gull-Masty, the first woman elected Quebec Cree Grand Chief, is the Minister of Indigenous Services. She's a rookie MP who unseated an incumbent Bloc Québécois MP.
It's the first time an Indigenous person has led the federal department responsible for delivering services to First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.
Joël Lightbound, an MP since 2015 who was highly critical of Trudeau's handling of the pandemic, is the minister of government transformation, public works and procurement. He represents a riding in Quebec City, where the Liberals made inroads.
Absent from the cabinet announcement was the name of Carlos Leitão. The former Quebec finance minister, who once served as Laurentian Bank's chief economist, was considered a contender for an economic post.
Also passed over were veteran Trudeau ministers Jean-Yves Duclos and Marc Miller.
Carney also named 10 secretaries of state. They are not members of the cabinet, but can participate in cabinet meetings when matters related to their responsibilities are raised.
The list includes Quebecers Anna Gainey, who will be responsible for issues related to children and youth, and Nathalie Provost, whose portfolio will focus on nature.
Gainey, the daughter of former Montreal Canadiens player Bob Gainey, has been an MP since 2023. Provost, a gun-control advocate and a survivor of the Polytechnique massacre, is a first-time MP.
In last month's election, Carney's Liberals won 43 per cent of the vote in Quebec — more than any other party — and boosted their seat count in the province by nine, capturing 44 ridings.
That support from Quebecers means Carney 'owes one to Quebecers,' Premier François Legault has said.
On social media Tuesday, Legault signalled that immigration will be a key issue in his dealings with Carney.
He shared an article about the United Kingdom's newly announced immigration cuts, calling it 'required reading' for the incoming federal government. Legault also reiterated that Quebec wants fewer immigrants settling in Montreal and Laval.
Carney needs strong Quebec cabinet representation, in part because a provincial election is set for October 2026 with the separatist Parti Québécois leading in the polls and vowing to hold a sovereignty referendum.
The province's business groups welcomed the revamped cabinet.
'Quebec's strengthened presence in several key economic portfolios is an opportunity to advance concrete solutions to support growth, innovation and the competitiveness of local businesses,' said Marie-Claude Perreault, interim CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec, the province's largest employers' group.
Véronique Proulx, CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, said the new federal government's 'priorities are well aligned with those of businesses, particularly in terms of workforce, competitiveness and market access.
'We expect public policies and impactful programs that will have concrete effects on our businesses and our economy.'
LIVE: Introducing Canada's new Ministry • EN DIRECT : Présentation du nouveau ministère canadien
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) May 13, 2025
Cabinet members
Mark Carney, Prime Minister
Shafqat Ali, President of the Treasury Board
Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue
Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy
Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement
Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Steven MacKinnon, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence
Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health
Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada
Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade
Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries
Secretaries of state
Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development)
Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)
Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)
Wayne Long, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
Stephanie McLean, Secretary of State (Seniors)
Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature)
Ruby Sahota, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)
Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development)
Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport)
John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour)
This article will be updated.
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 11:22 AM.
