|
Liberal Government Cabinet Sworn In Public Relations to Make Liberal Minority Government Look RepresentativeJustin Trudeau's new cabinet was sworn in at a ceremony on November 20 at Rideau Hall, presided over by Governor-General Julie Payette. The cabinet has been expanded from 31 members to 37, including the Prime Minister. Seven members are new to cabinet. Three former cabinet ministers were not re-appointed, and two lost their seats. Seventeen members come from Ontario, ten from Quebec, four from British Columbia, one from Manitoba, and one from each of the Atlantic provinces. There are an equal number of women and men, as in Trudeau's first cabinet. Many members who were in the previous cabinet were assigned new roles. The most prominent change was the naming of Chrystia Freeland as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, with responsibility for working with the provinces. Freeland also remains in charge of Canada-U.S. relations, including passage of the new NAFTA agreement by the U.S. Congress. The monopoly-controlled media suggested that Freeland's role involved exercising her "considerable diplomatic skills" to develop better relations with the premiers, among them Ontario's Doug Ford, Quebec's Francois Legault, Alberta's Jason Kenney and Saskatchewan's Scott Moe. That these "considerable diplomatic skills" were exercised in the last parliament on behalf of the global oligarchs who control the Canadian economy is not to be discussed. Nor is the fact that Freeland has done yeoman's service for U.S. imperialism on matters of war and peace, and in embroiling Canada in conspiring to bring about illegal regime change in Venezuela, Bolivia and other countries.
The Montreal Gazette quoted both the Quebec Legault government and the mayor of Montreal as welcoming the increased number of ministers from Quebec. "The importance of Quebec is confirmed," said Quebec Treasury Board President Christian Dubé. "I think it is very good news for all of us." Mayor Valérie Plante said she is counting on the six Montreal ministers to ensure the city has a strong voice in cabinet on issues such as mobility and housing, the Gazette reported. "The fact that they actually live here or their ridings are here definitely brings a different layer of understanding, and of wanting to do the right thing," she said. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tweeted, "The Government of Alberta hopes to find common ground with the federal government to create jobs and growth, in part through responsible resource development, and to ensure fairness in the Canadian federation." "In particular, I look forward to working with [Jim Carr] in his new role as Special Representative for the Prairies, [Chrystia Freeland] as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs [and Seamus O'Regan] as the Minister of Natural Resources," Kenney wrote. At the same time, Kenney has revived a version of Stephen Harper's "firewall" around Alberta, including a separate Alberta pension plan, and has been grandstanding about what he calls the inequity of the equalization arrangements which were negotiated by the Harper government, of which he was a leading member. Ontario Premier Doug Ford congratulated those appointed to the new cabinet, saying that his team is looking forward to working with Ottawa to "build a stronger, more prosperous Ontario and Canada." Jim Carr, former Minister of International Trade Diversification and before that Minister of Natural Resources was appointed as Trudeau's "special representative" for the prairies. Carr almost immediately stated that he thinks there is room to make changes to regulations governing major energy and mining projects. In addition to the cabinet appointments, Pablo Rodriguez was named House Leader, and Kristy Duncan, Deputy House Leader; Mark Holland remains Chief Government Whip. Commentators point out that the role of the House Leader and his team assumes more importance in a minority parliament, where the government needs the support of either the Conservatives, the Bloc Québécois, or the NDP to get legislation passed. Among the changes in the new cabinet is the appointment of Bill Blair, formerly Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction, as Minister of Public Safety, a position formerly held by Ralph Goodale who lost his seat. The minister of public safety is responsible for the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency, Corrections Canada and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). As Toronto Chief of Police, Blair presided over one of the most violent and massive violations of human rights by the police in Canada at the 2010 G20, including widespread police violence and abuse of rights and the unlawful arrests of some 1,150 people. His appointment is another ominous sign as to where this government is headed.
The fraud that the Trudeau government will consult with Canadians and do things in a new way has been completely exposed. Now "listening to Canadians" is being presented to mean that the federal government is going to conduct some shrewd deal-making with the provincial governments. Beneath the smooth talk is the reality that there is no politics, only striving for domination and power and the dictate of the financial oligarchy. What is being promoted is deal-making behind the backs of the people. It is further proof that the "democratic institutions" are obsolete and are dragging society down. Canadians already have oodles of experience with the Liberals and their claims to do things differently, to consult, listen to Canadians and so on, and the reality that what exists is the rule of private interests through the use of police powers. They are not adopting a wait and see attitude towards this government. It is a time to Empower Ourselves Now! by continuing to speak in our own names. It is the demand for genuine democracy, for democratic renewal, which is the order of the day.
This article was published in Article Link:   Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca |
Media reports have highlighted the make-up of the new
cabinet as concerns the number of cabinet members from Quebec and the
different regions of Canada, which it presents as a matter of ensuring
that all parts of Canada as well as Quebec are listened to and
represented. The "sunny ways" by which Trudeau claimed he would govern
in 2015 have been rejigged in 2019 as a matter of "listen hard" and
"mend fences," as the 
On top of the fraud that the working people of Canada are
at each other's throats and engaged in bashing Quebec and Alberta, the
monopoly-controlled media are now spinning the tale that the provincial
governments represent the demands and aspirations of the people, and
the federal government is somewhat chastened and in fence-mending mode.
The reality is that people are in motion against these same
governments, expressing their fierce opposition to their neo-liberal,
anti-social offensive and the destruction of any public authority.