Boissonnault, Fraser, Ien among nine new faces in Trudeau’s cabinet

He founded Literacy Without Borders to promote literacy for children and adults in Canada and the developing world.

The MP has been a finisher in the Ironman Canada Triathlon.

Sean Fraser, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship

Fraser has been MP for Central Nova in Nova Scotia since 2015. A lawyer by profession, he previously served as parliamentary secretary to the minister of finance and to the minister of middle-class prosperity. He has also been associate minister of finance, and parliamentary secretary to the minister of environment and climate change. Before entering politics, Fraser practised commercial litigation and international dispute resolution at a leading law firm.

Mark Holland, leader of the government in the House of Commons

The Ajax MP has served six terms in Parliament since first being elected to his Ontario riding in 2004. A seasoned political operator, Holland served as chief government whip before being promoted to the cabinet. He was previously parliamentary secretary to the minister of public safety and emergency preparedness, and parliamentary secretary to the minister of democratic institutions.

In the Commons, Holland has fought for marriage equality rights and played a key role in modernizing Canada’s animal cruelty laws. Before becoming an MP he was a Durham regional councillor and acting mayor of Pickering.

Gudie Hutchings, minister of rural economic development

Hutchings was elected as MP for Long Range Mountains in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2015. She has previously served as parliamentary secretary to the minister for women and gender equality and rural economic development and parliamentary secretary for small business and tourism. She was one of the original members of the national security and intelligence committee of parliamentarians.

She was born and brought up in Corner Brook, N.L. For 10 years she was on the board of the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association, which runs hunting and fishing trips, and served as both president and vice-president. She was also chair and managing director of the Battle Harbour Historic Trust, which promotes the history and natural environment of Battle Harbour, a top tourist destination in Labrador.

Marci Ien, minister for women and gender equality and youth

TheToronto Centre MP is an award-winning journalist who was elected in a byelection in 2020.

In a career spanning 30 years, including at CTV, she won several awards including for a news serial on the underground railroad. Ien is a Black Canadian whose father came to Canada from Trinidad to attend university. She is the only Black woman in cabinet. Before becoming an MP she worked as a mentor with underprivileged youth in Toronto and La Loche in northern Saskatchewan and travelled internationally with Journalists for Human Rights and World Vision. She is a graduate of Ryerson University and returned to the university as a distinguished visiting professor.

Helena Jaczek, minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Jaczek worked as a doctor at the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto for much of her career and was chief medical officer of health in York Region for 18 years. She has been MP for Markham-Stouffville since 2019. Between 2007 and 2018 she was the member of provincial parliament for the riding of Oak Ridges-Markham and served as provincial minister of health and long-term care. Jaczek, 70, has also sat on the boards of Reena, a non-profit organization providing services to people with developmental disabilities, and the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care.

Jaczek was born in London, England, and came to Canada at age 12. Her father was Polish and her mother English.

She has won a number of awards for leadership in the health sector. She has a medical degree from the University of Toronto, and a master of business administration from York University.

Kamal Khera, minister of seniors

Khera was elected MP for Brampton West in 2015. She is a registered nurse with degrees in nursing and psychology from the University of York, and has worked in the cancer unit at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto.

She immigrated to Canada from Delhi, India, as a child and is an active member of her community, previously serving as the chairperson of the South Asian Canadians Heritage Foundation. She has been an avid community volunteer and was event coordinator with the Sick Kids Foundation. She has previously served as parliamentary secretary to the minister for international development and minister for international revenue.

Ginette Petitpas Taylor, minister of official languages and minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Ginette Petitpas Taylor has been MP for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe in New Brunswick since 2015. She has previously served as minister of health and parliamentary secretary to the minister of finance. Before entering politics, she worked for the Canadian Mental Health Association in Saint John, N.B. She had a 23-year career as a social worker and victims services coordinator for the RCMP.

Pascale St-Onge, minister of sport and minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

The newly elected MP for Brome-Missisquoi was secretary general, and then president, of the National Federation of Communications and Culture before becoming an MP. She oversaw expert studies on the cultural sector and the media, including on the development of digital platforms.

St-Onge is the former bassist with the successful indie band Mad June, in which she also sang backing vocals. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in literary studies from the University of Quebec in Montreal and a certificate in journalism from the University of Montreal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 26, 2021.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Boissonnault, Fraser, Ien among nine new faces in Trudeau’s cabinet

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