Trudeau’s cabinet shuffle: Which ministers changed jobs and what lies ahead for foreign policy, defence, health and more

Joly was asked whether China will face reprisals for having jailed Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor for more than 1,000 days in what Ottawa once criticized as “hostage diplomacy,” but declined to say. She said she plans to meet with experts on China shortly. “I can tell you, however, that we have no illusions. Our eyes will be wide open.”

The best way to forge a response to all of this would be to appoint a powerful minister of foreign affairs: somebody with the depth of experience to thoroughly overhaul the department, to thoroughly review and reform Canadian foreign policy and then to implement that policy, with the full backing of the Prime Minister. ... That is what the country’s foreign policy needs. Instead, we are likely to get more of the same under the next foreign minister, whoever that is, as if anybody cared.

Ms. Anand told reporters Tuesday that her top priority is to make sure that everyone in the Forces feels safe, protected and supported. She also pledged to put structures in place to ensure that “justice is served.” But she said it is important to remember that there is “no one magic solution” for sexual misconduct.

During the recent federal election campaign, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised that, if re-elected, a Liberal government would invest $4.5-billion over five years to improve access to mental health care. He later said an annual transfer of mental health funds would become a permanent fixture. These are good, if modest, initiatives. But you don’t need a junior health minister just to deliver cheques. Ms. Bennett has some real challenges ahead of her beyond urging the provinces to improve access to psychological services.

In some ways, the Environment Department should be an easy and natural fit, after a tumultuous first cabinet post at Heritage, where he struggled with an attempt to regulate the internet. He shouldn’t have much difficulty representing Canada on COP26′s international stage, despite minimal preparation time. He has been to plenty of that conference’s previous editions and can speak more knowledgeably on climate matters than many of his international counterparts who have been in their jobs longer. But he could struggle with the weight of expectations from climate activists excited to have one of their own in such a key role.

Lorraine Whitman, the president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, said all of the new ministers have shown compassion in their work at the federal level. “We are hopeful that spirit will continue as they take on their new jobs,” she said. “These appointments are good steps forward for reconciliation.”

Canada’s once-enviable legal supports for domestic culture have been bypassed by the borderless digital giants – Netflix and Spotify know no Can-con rules – and, you’ll remember from previous episodes, [former Heritage minister Mélanie] Joly had raised expectations of a big fix with her big cultural-policy review. Yet, when she finally unveiled proposals, they turned out to be mere tweaks: The minister had failed to deliver. ... As Rodriguez returns to Heritage, Canada’s cultural producers are praying that he is the charm.