Trudeau officially becomes Prime Minister; names his cabinet

(By NEWS 1130 and The Canadian Press) Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has been sworn in as Canada’s 23rd prime minister by Gov. Gen. David Johnston.  Trudeau was sworn in shortly after the resignation earlier today of his Conservative predecessor, Stephen Harper.  The ceremony took place at Rideau Hall before a crowd of dignitaries and Liberal luminaries, including former prime ministers Jean Chretien and John Turner, as well as friends and family members.  In a unique ceremony, with the public was invited and two big screens were set up so they could all take part in a traditionally private event.  Trudeau and his new cabinet arrived on a bus instead of the typical line of limos. They walked up the long driveway together, greeting the crowds.

Meantime, three MPs from BC are among those sworn in to cabinet.

Harjit Sajjan (Vancouver South) has been named Canada’s new defense minister by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Jody Wilson-Raybould (Vancouver Granville) has been named Justice Minister, while Carla Qualtrough (Delta) has been named Minister of Sport.
Rookie Toronto MP Bill Morneau has been named finance minister. Morneau, a former executive and past chairman of the C.D. Howe Institute, is just one of several newcomers to the House of Commons among those comprising Trudeau’s 30-member cabinet.
Veteran MP and former Liberal leader Stephane Dion has been appointed foreign affairs minister. Others include Ralph Goodale in Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness; Lawrence MacAulay in Agriculture and Agri-Food; John McCallum in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; and Carolyn Bennett in Indigenous and Northern Affairs. Toronto MP Chrystia Freeland becomes international trade minister.
Kent Hehr takes Veterans Affairs and also becomes associate minister of national defence, while and newcomer Catherine McKenna takes Environment and Climate Change.
Judy Foote is minister of public services and procurement, while Scott Brison has been named president of the Treasury Board. Veteran MP Dominic LeBlanc becomes government House leader. Melanie Joly takes the Canadian Heritage portfolio; Navdeep Bains gets Innovation, Science and Economic Development; Jane Philpott in Health; Jean-Yves Duclos in Families, Children and Social Development.

Full list of new cabinet sworn in today:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale
Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay
Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion
Immigration Minister John McCallum
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett
Treasury Board President Scott Brison
Government House leader Dominc LeBlanc
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Singh Bains
Finance Minister Bill Morneau
Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould
Public Services Minister Judy Foote
International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland
Health Minister Jane Philpott
Families, Children and Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos
Transport Minister Marc Garneau
International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau
Natural Resources Minister James Carr
Canadian Heritage Minister Melanie Joly
Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier
Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan
Employment Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk
Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi
Democratic Institutins Minister Maryam Monsef
Sports Minister Carla Qualtrough
Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo
Science Minister Kirsty Duncan
Status of Women’s Minister Patricia Hajdu
Small Business Minister Bardish Chagger