Newfoundland and Labrador MP named Canada’s new Indigenous services minister
Jane Philpott moved to Treasury Board in Jan. 14 cabinet shuffle
A Monday morning cabinet shuffle moved Jane Philpott from the position of minister of Indigenous services, which will now be filled by Newfoundland and Labrador MP Seamus O’Regan. (Images courtesy of the PMO)
Canada has a new minister of Indigenous services, following a federal cabinet shuffle on Monday, Jan. 14.
The shuffle saw the Indigenous services portfolio handed from Jane Philpott to Seamus O’Regan.
O’Regan is MP for St. John’s–Mount Pearl and outgoing minister of veteran affairs. He was raised in Goose Bay and is best known for his long run as co-host on CTV’s Canada AM before running for federal politics in 2015.
“His compassion and advocacy will help us as we walk the road to reconciliation with our Indigenous partners,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following the Monday morning shuffle.
“I know he will bring about real change.”
Philpott was the first minister named to Indigenous services in August 2017, when the government split Indigenous and Northern Affairs into two departments: Indigenous Services and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.
Philpott will now serve as president of the Treasury Board, replacing Scott Brison, who resigned from cabinet last week.
“She delivered tremendous results for Indigenous peoples,” Trudeau said today of Philpott’s leadership at the helm of Indigenous services.
Another high-profile shuffle involved Jody Wilson-Raybould’s move from justice to veterans affairs. She is replaced by new Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti, a Montreal MP who is new to cabinet.
And Nova Scotia MP Bernadette Jordan is also new to cabinet in her new role as minister of rural economic development.
At Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, president Natan Obed said the organization looked forward to its continued relationships with federal cabinet ministers.
“We expect to continue our positive and productive work with Minister Jane Philpott in her new position as President of the Treasury Board Secretariat,” Obed said in a Jan. 14 release.
“At Indigenous Services Canada, we hope to build on the progressive foundation established by Minister Philpott with Minister Seamus O’Regan, and we look forward to welcoming him to the upcoming Inuit Crown Partnership Committee meeting in Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, in March.”
Trudeau’s cabinet shuffle comes just nine months ahead of the next federal election, which is scheduled to take place on or before Oct. 21, 2019.
Look at Hunter Tootoo squawking like he matters in all this. You had your chance Hunter, you’re a seat warmer until October, enjoy the free ride, it’s almost over.
Are you running Iroll? Easier to criticize than actually put yourself out there!!
Are you saying that only people who ‘run’ should be allowed to criticize? Imagine if that were true, what a dysfunctional democracy it would make.
(ps: friend or family?)
Heaven help Canada’s Indigenous peoples if O’Regan is as disrespectful and duplicitous with them as he has been with veterans.
Given that we are not covered by the Indian Act, and we need to be able to support ourselves far more than we need other people’s sympathy. I think it is more important our representatives cultivate a working relationship with Minister Jordan.
The Liberals committed to tens of billions in infrastructure spending and very little of this has gone out the door. That is in fact the biggest gap between what they promised and what they have thus far delivered.
Time for them to switch into high gear and invest in the several nation building projects we have in the north.