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Here's some of the new cabinet:
Stephen Harper's cabinet
Key members:
Jim Flaherty, Finance
Peter MacKay, Foreign Affairs
David Emerson, Int'l Trade
Tony Clement, Health
Gordon O'Connor, Defence
Vic Toews, Justice
Rona Ambrose, Environment
Stockwell Day, Public Safety
Monte Solberg, Citizenship
Maxime Bernier, Industry
John Baird, Treasury Board
Rob Nicholson, Democratic
Key members:
Jim Flaherty, Finance
Peter MacKay, Foreign Affairs
David Emerson, Int'l Trade
Tony Clement, Health
Gordon O'Connor, Defence
Vic Toews, Justice
Rona Ambrose, Environment
Stockwell Day, Public Safety
Monte Solberg, Citizenship
Maxime Bernier, Industry
John Baird, Treasury Board
Rob Nicholson, Democratic
Harper sworn in as 22nd Prime Minister
MacKay, Flaherty, Clement, Toews get key posts
JEFF SALLOT
Globe and Mail Update
Stephen Harper was sworn in this morning as Canada's 22nd Prime Minister, opting for experience as he chose his first cabinet.
But he also touched off controversy by winning an unexpected defection from the Liberals and surprisingly appointing a non-MP.
"Our mission is clear," Mr. Harper said in a news release. "We will restore faith and trust in our public institutions as we keep Canada strong and united."
Former Ontario treasurer Jim Flaherty becomes finance minister. Former Progressive Conservative leader Peter MacKay of Nova Scotia is the new foreign affairs minister.
Tony Clement, another veteran of the Mike Harris Ontario government, is health minister and Lawrence Cannon, a former provincial minister from Quebec, is the transport minister.
Former Liberal industry minister David Emerson crossed the floor to join Mr. Harper's 26-member cabinet as international trade minister.
Mr. Harper also took the unusual step of naming Michael Fortier, the Tory national campaign co-chairman, minister of public works. Mr. Fortier is not an MP, which probably means he will need to seek a seat in a by-election.
Vic Toews of Manitoba will be justice minister, while Rob Nicholson, a minister under Kim Campbell, will be Government House Leader. Rona Ambrose of Calgary takes the environment portfolio.
Mr. Harper took the oath of office in ceremonies at Rideau Hall, presided over by Governor-General Michaëlle Jean, first in French and then English, with his personal Bible.
He was officially sworn in by Alex Himmelfarb, clerk of the Privy Council, as his wife, Laureen, and their two young childen watched.
Mr. Harper reduced the size of the cabinet to 26 from the 37-member Liberal cabinet of Paul Martin by combining several posts.
Saskatchewan MP Carol Skelton, for example, will be both revenue minister and minister for western economic development.
The cabinet drops the post of deputy prime minister. The new ministers arrived in cars and taxis –an apparent effort to show that they are closer to the people than the Liberals, who used limousines.
Mr. Harper boasted in a news release that his new smaller cabinet is "designed for work, not for show."
"The 26 ministers are equal members of the team, ensuring equal voices from all regions of Canada."
"The structure is designed to promote accountable, efficient and effective government – more focus and purpose [with] less process and cost."
Gordon O'Connor, a former army general, is the defence minister, a key post given Conservative plans to beef up the military, particularly its presence in the Arctic.
The former leader of the Canadian Alliance, Stockwell Day, becomes public safety minister, in charge of key anti-terrorism agencies, including the RCMP and CSIS.
The Conservatives placed a lot of emphasis on law-and-order issues in opposition, and Mr. Harper seemed to be highlighting those concerns with the appointment of Mr. Day and Mr. Toews, who has been a strong advocate for mandatory minimum prison sentences for gun crimes.
The new Tory cabinet has five women, including Senator Marjory LeBreton, who becomes Government Leader in the Senate. The larger Liberal cabinet had nine women.
The Conservative caucus is heavy with MPs from the West, and many stalwarts from the region, including Calgarian Diane Ablonczy and Jay Hill from British Columbia, did not make the cut.
Jason Kenney, another Westerner who did not make it into cabinet, is slated for a key post as parliamentary secretary to Mr. Harper.
In the regional balancing act, Mr. Harper named as total of 10 MPs from Western Canada, eight from Ontario, five from Quebec, including Mr. Fortier, and three from Atlantic Canada.
Bev Oda becomes the first Japanese-Canadian cabinet minister. She's the heritage minister and minister for the status of women.
Four of the 10 new Tory MPs from Quebec get cabinet posts. In addition to Mr. Fortier and Mr. Cannon at transport, they are Jean-Pierre Blackburn at labour, Maxime Bernier at Industry and Josée Verner at international co-operation.
Chuck Strahl of British Columbia, who is battling lung cancer, becomes agriculture minister.
Other westerners include Jim Prentice, minister of Indian affairs and northern development; Monte Solberg, minister of citizenship and immigration; and Gary Lunn, minister of natural resources.
Other ministers include:
President of Treasury Board – John Baird
Minister of Veterans Affairs – Gregory Thompson
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans – Loyola Hearn.
President of the Queen's Privy Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister for Sport – Michael Chong
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development – Diane Finley
Earlier today, Liberal Leader Paul Martin tendered his resignation as prime minister to the Governor-General, setting the stage for the swearing-in of the new Conservative government.
Mr. Martin, whose government was defeated in the Jan. 23 election, slipped in a side door to Rideau Hall earlier than expected, avoiding journalists, and completed the resignation formalities in a brief meeting with the Governor-General.
He then came out the front door, waved to the cameras, climbed into a waiting car, and drove off without taking any questions.
MacKay, Flaherty, Clement, Toews get key posts
JEFF SALLOT
Globe and Mail Update
Stephen Harper was sworn in this morning as Canada's 22nd Prime Minister, opting for experience as he chose his first cabinet.
But he also touched off controversy by winning an unexpected defection from the Liberals and surprisingly appointing a non-MP.
"Our mission is clear," Mr. Harper said in a news release. "We will restore faith and trust in our public institutions as we keep Canada strong and united."
Former Ontario treasurer Jim Flaherty becomes finance minister. Former Progressive Conservative leader Peter MacKay of Nova Scotia is the new foreign affairs minister.
Tony Clement, another veteran of the Mike Harris Ontario government, is health minister and Lawrence Cannon, a former provincial minister from Quebec, is the transport minister.
Former Liberal industry minister David Emerson crossed the floor to join Mr. Harper's 26-member cabinet as international trade minister.
Mr. Harper also took the unusual step of naming Michael Fortier, the Tory national campaign co-chairman, minister of public works. Mr. Fortier is not an MP, which probably means he will need to seek a seat in a by-election.
Vic Toews of Manitoba will be justice minister, while Rob Nicholson, a minister under Kim Campbell, will be Government House Leader. Rona Ambrose of Calgary takes the environment portfolio.
Mr. Harper took the oath of office in ceremonies at Rideau Hall, presided over by Governor-General Michaëlle Jean, first in French and then English, with his personal Bible.
He was officially sworn in by Alex Himmelfarb, clerk of the Privy Council, as his wife, Laureen, and their two young childen watched.
Mr. Harper reduced the size of the cabinet to 26 from the 37-member Liberal cabinet of Paul Martin by combining several posts.
Saskatchewan MP Carol Skelton, for example, will be both revenue minister and minister for western economic development.
The cabinet drops the post of deputy prime minister. The new ministers arrived in cars and taxis –an apparent effort to show that they are closer to the people than the Liberals, who used limousines.
Mr. Harper boasted in a news release that his new smaller cabinet is "designed for work, not for show."
"The 26 ministers are equal members of the team, ensuring equal voices from all regions of Canada."
"The structure is designed to promote accountable, efficient and effective government – more focus and purpose [with] less process and cost."
Gordon O'Connor, a former army general, is the defence minister, a key post given Conservative plans to beef up the military, particularly its presence in the Arctic.
The former leader of the Canadian Alliance, Stockwell Day, becomes public safety minister, in charge of key anti-terrorism agencies, including the RCMP and CSIS.
The Conservatives placed a lot of emphasis on law-and-order issues in opposition, and Mr. Harper seemed to be highlighting those concerns with the appointment of Mr. Day and Mr. Toews, who has been a strong advocate for mandatory minimum prison sentences for gun crimes.
The new Tory cabinet has five women, including Senator Marjory LeBreton, who becomes Government Leader in the Senate. The larger Liberal cabinet had nine women.
The Conservative caucus is heavy with MPs from the West, and many stalwarts from the region, including Calgarian Diane Ablonczy and Jay Hill from British Columbia, did not make the cut.
Jason Kenney, another Westerner who did not make it into cabinet, is slated for a key post as parliamentary secretary to Mr. Harper.
In the regional balancing act, Mr. Harper named as total of 10 MPs from Western Canada, eight from Ontario, five from Quebec, including Mr. Fortier, and three from Atlantic Canada.
Bev Oda becomes the first Japanese-Canadian cabinet minister. She's the heritage minister and minister for the status of women.
Four of the 10 new Tory MPs from Quebec get cabinet posts. In addition to Mr. Fortier and Mr. Cannon at transport, they are Jean-Pierre Blackburn at labour, Maxime Bernier at Industry and Josée Verner at international co-operation.
Chuck Strahl of British Columbia, who is battling lung cancer, becomes agriculture minister.
Other westerners include Jim Prentice, minister of Indian affairs and northern development; Monte Solberg, minister of citizenship and immigration; and Gary Lunn, minister of natural resources.
Other ministers include:
President of Treasury Board – John Baird
Minister of Veterans Affairs – Gregory Thompson
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans – Loyola Hearn.
President of the Queen's Privy Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister for Sport – Michael Chong
Minister of Human Resources and Social Development – Diane Finley
Earlier today, Liberal Leader Paul Martin tendered his resignation as prime minister to the Governor-General, setting the stage for the swearing-in of the new Conservative government.
Mr. Martin, whose government was defeated in the Jan. 23 election, slipped in a side door to Rideau Hall earlier than expected, avoiding journalists, and completed the resignation formalities in a brief meeting with the Governor-General.
He then came out the front door, waved to the cameras, climbed into a waiting car, and drove off without taking any questions.
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