Minister of Health – Hon. Marjorie Michel (Papineau, QC) – Although just newly elected, Minister Michel has been a long-time political operative and more recently worked in the Prime Minister’s office (in fact, she has replaced Justin Trudeau as MP for Papineau). As her bio states that her motto is to “think outside the box” and that she values looking at new ways of doing things, we can hope that our new Health Minister may become the needed catalyst for the changes and regulatory modernization Health Canada so urgently needs and are now so urgent in improving Canadian competitiveness.
Minister of the Environment & Climate Change – Hon. Julie Dabrusin (Toronto Danforth, ON) – Although the Minister’s appointment has attracted some concern given her previous role as a Parliamentary Secretary to the unpopular former Environment Minister Steven Guilbault, she will be expected to move forward the government’s overall agenda of improving competitiveness and better managing environmental regulation. As to our industry, we did get to meet Minister Dabrusin during our promotion of the cosmetic animal testing ban and she did appreciate the role our association played in securing the consensus to move forward.
President of the Treasury Board – Hon. Shafqat Ali (Brampton-Chinguacousy Park, ON) – An MP since 2021, Minister Ali has a business background and represent a riding in which our industry has a strong presence. As the Minister responsible for overseeing regulation, we expect that Minister Ali will take an interest in our industry’s issues and need for regulatory modernization.
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Hon. Anita Anand (Oakville East, ON) – An MP since 2019 and considered one of the cabinet’s most competent Ministers, Minister Anand will take on the important portfolio of Foreign Affairs in the critical days ahead. Representing Oakville, she is sensitive to the many industries resident in this part of the GTA including our sector.
Minister of Industry – Hon. Melanie Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, QC) – Shuffled from Foreign Affairs to the Industry (we understand at her request), the Minister will take on a portfolio that will be important in addressing the changes that the re-ordering of the world’s economy may require of Canadian industry. CA will be exploring how her portfolio may be of assistance to our members.
Minister of Government Transformation – Hon. Joel Lightbound (Louis-Hebert, QC) – Although having been an MP since 2015, Minister Lightbound is one of the youngest members of cabinet at 38. It is not quite clear what the portfolio of “Government Transformation” includes, but if it is intended to advance the government modernization and efficiency, CA will be looking as to we can interact with this new Minister.
Minister of International Trade – Hon. Maninder Sidhu (Brampton East, ON) – An MP since 2019 and representing an area where our industry has a significant presence, CA will be looking to working with Minister Sidhu in his new responsibilities for international trade which we expect will focus on developing export opportunities beyond the U.S.
Minister of Transport and Internal Trade – Hon. Chrystia Freeland (University-Rosedale, ON) – With her significant cabinet experience, including during the last CUSMA negotiations, Minister Freeland will now be focusing on working with provincial governments on internal trade barriers. As such, she may be helpful to our industry in addressing some of extended producer responsibility (EPR) issues including the “red tape” created for industry with the lack of a single pan Canadian model.
Minister of State for Small Business – Hon. Rechie Valdez (Mississauga-Streetsville, ON) – First elected in 2021, the new Minister represents a part of the GTA in which our industry has a significant presence, and she is known to many of our members. Minister Valdez also has visited the CA offices in Mississauga when she joined the then Health Minister for the celebration of the passage of the animal testing ban legislation.
The Hon. Francois-Philippe Champagne (Saint-Maurice – Champlain, QC) remains in Finance, while Hon. Romeo LeBlanc (Beausejour, NB) continues with Canada-U.S. Trade.
