July 20, 2004 - Not a bad cabinet, overall. A lot of us wanted change, and we got some. Cabinet highlights:
· Stephane Dion, Jean Chrétien's former intergovernmental affairs minister, is back as Canada's new environment minister. That's terrific news.
· Former Canfor executive David Emerson from British Columbia as industry minister? Good pick. Smart guy.
· Toronto-area MP John Godfrey is smart, and he'll need all his wits for the cities file. I think he'll do well.
· Scott Brison, who - as we all know - ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party in the spring of 2003, then switched to the Grits in December, is taking over Public Works. I like Scott a lot, and I think he is going to have to be as tough as I know he can be - first, because he's Target Number One for the Tories, because (a) he switched sides and (b) he won election as a Liberal. Second, because Public Works is going to be hot, hot, hot for the next Parliamentary session. Hot.
· Tony Ianno, after clobbering NDP star Olivia Chow in Toronto Spadina, is now minister of state for families and caregivers. Good for Tony. Good on his campaign team, too - Gordon, Tenio et al.
· Andy Mitchell is a great guy and is moving from Indian and Northern Affairs to Agriculture and Agrifood. Another impressive Andy is Andy Scott of New Brunswick, now at Indian and Northern Development. Good pick. Good Liberal. Good stuff.
· Former labour minister Claudette Bradshaw is staying, now as minister of state for human resources development. Right on.
· Raymond Chan is the new minister of state for multiculturalism. Good to see him back in Parliament, and in a ministry.
I was asked by Newsworld to discuss all of this on-air last night, but I declined because we had kid stuff to attend to - and also because I didn't know what the cabinet would look like. Now that I do, I'd say it ain't bad.
Now begins the real work, eh?
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