Harper shuffles his cabinet

NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

************************* New cabinet charged with protecting Canada's future in a time of global economic instability

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today appointed a new federal cabinet charged with protecting Canadians in a time of increasing global economic instability.

“While the fundamentals of Canada’s economy remain stronger, more stable and more durable than those of many other nations, it is clear that we are not immune to what happens outside our borders,” said the prime minister. “That is why the central responsibility of our new mandate will be to ensure that Canada’s businesses and families have the security they need to weather any global economic storm.”

As part of the strong economic focus of the new cabinet, the prime minister announced that key economic portfolios would remain in the hands of cabinet veterans, including Jim Flaherty, who will remain minister of finance.

At the same time, the prime minister welcomed several first-time cabinet ministers who will bring a broad range of experience to the cabinet table.

“This will be an experienced, economically focused Ministry that is prepared to immediately get to work in the interests of Canadians,” said the prime minister. “This is the right team for these times. We will build a foundation of strength that will protect the earnings, savings and financial security of Canadians and ensure that Canada emerges from this time of global turmoil stronger than ever before.”

************************* The Canadian Ministry - in order of precedence

The Right Honourable Stephen Joseph Harper Prime Minister

The Honourable Robert Douglas Nicholson Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture)

The Honourable Gregory Francis Thompson Minister of Veterans Affairs

The Honourable Marjory LeBreton Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister of State (Seniors)

The Honourable Chuck Strahl Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians

The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway

The Honourable Stockwell Day Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway

The Honourable Vic Toews President of the Treasury Board

The Honourable Rona Ambrose Minister of Labour

The Honourable Diane Finley Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

The Honourable Beverley J. Oda Minister of International Cooperation

The Honourable Jim Prentice Minister of the Environment

The Honourable John Baird Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon Minister of Foreign Affairs

The Honourable Tony Clement Minister of Industry

The Honourable James Michael Flaherty Minister of Finance

The Honourable Josée Verner Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister for La Francophonie

The Honourable Jay D. Hill Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

The Honourable Peter Van Loan Minister of Public Safety

The Honourable Gerry Ritz Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board

The Honourable Jason Kenney Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism

The Honourable Christian Paradis Minister of Public Works and Government Services

The Honourable James Moore Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq Minister of Health

The Honourable Lisa Raitt Minister of Natural Resources

The Honourable Gail Shea Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

The Honourable Gary Lunn Minister of State (Sport)

The Honourable Gordon O’Connor Minister of State and Chief Government Whip

The Honourable Helena Guergis Minister of State (Status of Women)

The Honourable Diane Ablonczy Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)

The Honourable Rob Merrifield Minister of State (Transport)

The Honourable Lynne Yelich Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification)

The Honourable Steven John Fletcher Minister of State (Democratic Reform)

The Honourable Gary Goodyear Minister of State (Science and Technology)

The Honourable Denis Lebel Minister of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)

The Honourable Keith Ashfield Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

The Honourable Peter Kent Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)

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