Chrystia Freeland has been appointed Canada’s minister of foreign affairs as the Prime Minister made a substantial cabinet change Wednesday. She is the member for University Rosedale (and Moore Park). Political veterans know that a first-term cabinet is subject to a winnowing of the many unknowns and political creditors in it. Mary Ann Mihychuck is among the former and her new task is to simply be an MP. Stephane Dion, to whom the Liberals owe much, has been made ambassador to the European Union and Germany. Ms. Freeland leaves the international trade portfolio and replaces Dion. Immigration Minister John McCallum is also leaving politics and will be named Canada’s ambassador to China. A Toronto name, Adam Vaughan, does not appear in news reports so far Tuesday. The apparently ambitious Mr. Vaughan was overlooked in the first Trudeau cabinet as well, notwithstanding his feat of defeating Olivia Chow in Spadina-Fort York. Other changes announced today:
- Patty Hajdu will move from status of women to labour.
- Maryam Monsef will transfer from democratic institutions to status of women.
- Karina Gould will be named minister of democratic institutions.
- Ahmed Hussen become minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship.
Ms. Freeland has a long career fighting for international rights, and with the US seeming to abdicate that responsibility now, its great to have someone active in that role.