Federal cabinet changes include Indigenous and environmental portfolios
Marc Miller replaces Carolyn Bennett as minister of Crown–Indigenous relations
Marc Miller, centre, enters Rideau Hall on Tuesday before being sworn in as Canada’s minister of Crown-Indigenous relations. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a major overhaul to his cabinet Tuesday, including several changes to Indigenous and environmental portfolios.
Marc Miller has been named as minister of Crown–Indigenous relations. He previously served as minister of Indigenous services. Patty Hajdu, the former minister of health, will fill Miller’s former role.
Carolyn Bennett, who served as minister of Crown–Indigenous relations since 2015, is now minister of mental health and addictions and associate minister of health, following several weeks of calls from Indigenous leaders for her to be removed from the Crown-Indigenous relations post.
Steven Guilbeault is the new minister of the environment and climate change. Guilbeault’s former role, minister of heritage, is being filled by Pablo Rodriguez, who held that position from 2018 to 2019.
Daniel Vandal is staying on as minister of northern affairs, a position he has held since 2019.
Iqaluit mayor Kenny Bell expressed happiness about Vandal’s appointment, praising it on Twitter as “excellent news for Nunavut.”
Other major cabinet changes include Anita Anand replacing Harjit Sajjan as minister of national defence, Mélanie Joly moving from heritage to foreign affairs, and Kamal Khera filling the vacancy for minister of seniors.
Nunatsiaq News emailed Nunavut MP Lori Idlout and Abitibi–Baie-James–Nunavik–Eeyou MP Sylvie Bérubé for their reactions to the announcements. Spokespersons for both MPs said that neither of them were available for comment.
What an underwhelming choice
Hajdu has spent the entire pandemic applauding and defending China, a nation with a long track record of committing genocide against Indigenous peoples. How on earth was she ever even considered for a role in an Indigenous portfolio? An absolute slap in the face to all of us.
What “indigenous peoples” are you talking about?
Are either Miller or Hadju an Inuk or First Nations?
If not how can they even qualify for their positions?