Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled a dramatically restructured cabinet on Tuesday, vowing to govern with “urgency and determination” as Parliament prepares to return on May 26.
In a sharp departure from the Trudeau era, Carney introduced 28 full ministers and 10 secretaries of state in a two-tier cabinet designed to accelerate policy delivery and signal generational change. Half of the new cabinet is composed of first-time ministers, including 13 newly elected MPs.
“We were elected with a mandate for change. That change begins now,” Carney said outside Rideau Hall. “This cabinet is purpose-built for the challenges Canada faces — at home and abroad.”
A notable theme of the reshuffle is economic focus. Carney shuffled Mélanie Joly from foreign affairs to industry and handed the high-stakes Canada-U.S. relations file to Dominic LeBlanc, now tasked with both intergovernmental affairs and trade. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne stays in place and will oversee economic policy alongside LeBlanc and Freeland, who remains Minister of Transport and Internal Trade.
Anita Anand, widely seen as a rising star, takes over foreign affairs as Canada navigates tense relations with President Donald Trump’s administration and rising global protectionism.
In another high-profile move, Carney tapped Tim Hodgson, former Goldman Sachs Canada CEO and a longtime associate, as Minister of Natural Resources — a clear sign of intent to prioritize energy development and national infrastructure projects. Hodgson replaces Jonathan Wilkinson, one of several Trudeau-era veterans dropped from cabinet.
Also out are Bill Blair, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Marc Miller, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, and Kamal Khera, the latter of whom lost her seat in April.
Fresh Faces, New Mandates
Among the new ministers are:
- Gregor Robertson, former Vancouver mayor, becomes Housing and Infrastructure Minister.
- Julie Dabrusin, a Toronto MP, takes over Environment and Climate Change.
- Evan Solomon, former CBC host, becomes Canada’s first Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation.
- Marjorie Michel, the new MP for Papineau, succeeds Khera as Health Minister.
- Mandy Gull-Masty, former Cree Grand Chief, becomes Indigenous Services Minister.
- Rebecca Alty, N.W.T. MP and former mayor of Yellowknife, takes on Crown-Indigenous Relations.
Sean Fraser, who had stepped away from politics, returns as Minister of Justice.
Carney also introduced a junior tier of secretaries of state, reviving a pre-Trudeau convention. These include high-profile names like gun control advocate Nathalie Provost, Olympian Adam van Koeverden, and Trudeau critic Wayne Long. Saskatchewan MP Buckley Belanger will focus on rural development, while former air force pilot Stephen Fuhr handles defence procurement.
Strategic Shift and Political Balance
The cabinet reflects Carney’s intention to bring economic priorities to the forefront, from cutting internal trade barriers to fast-tracking housing. The inclusion of former critics like Joël Lightbound, now Minister of Government Transformation, signals a desire for greater openness within the party ranks.
Equal gender representation was maintained in the core cabinet, while geographic balance was attempted, though representation from Alberta and Saskatchewan remains thin. Carney’s team includes 11 ministers from Ontario and 7 from Quebec.
Pushback and Political Stakes
While Carney projected unity, the absence of ministers like Erskine-Smith and Kayabaga stirred frustration. The new House Leader, Steven MacKinnon, replaces Kayabaga, who served only briefly in the role without Parliament sitting.
Carney’s restructured cabinet will hold its first meeting Wednesday, with expectations high that a fast-paced legislative agenda will follow.