Trudeau unveils new Liberal cabinet

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled his new expanded cabinet on Wednesday afternoon. Following last month’s election to a minority government position, the new leadership team aims to advance Liberal campaign promises to tackle climate change and promote middle-class prosperity, while attempting to soothe regional tensions across the country.
The pivotal role in his new cabinet for a minority-government era goes to Chrystia Freeland, who moves from the prestigious Global Affairs portfolio to become deputy prime minister and minister in charge of intergovernmental affairs. Francois-Philippe Champagne, formerly minister of Infrastructure and communities, takes on the mantle of minister of foreign affairs.
Freeland, whom Trudeau tapped to deal with mercurial U.S. President Donald Trump during the tense renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, will now be in charge of dealing with hostile conservative premiers across the country. That will be particularly important in Canada’s oil and gas heartland, Alberta and Saskatchewan, where the Liberals were shut out on Oct. 21. See full story in the Thursday, Nov. 21 edition of The Record.