PM Mark Carney forms new Canadian cabinet to reshape US ties

Vancouver: Two weeks after Canada’s federal elections, Prime Minister Mark Carney has formed his new cabinet, inducting 23 ministers with a special focus on gender balance and regional representation. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, presided over by Governor General Mary Simon and Prime Minister Carney.

Among the newly appointed ministers, Randeep Singh Sarai, Maninder Sidhu, and Ruby Sahota—of Indian origin and linked to Village Sarai Khas near Jalandhar—have been made Ministers of State.

Sarai, who has been elected from Surrey Centre for the fourth consecutive time, has been assigned the Ministry of State for International Development. Sidhu has been given the Department of International Trade, while Sahota takes charge as Minister of State for Crime Prevention.

The cabinet also marks a return to the tradition of appointing Ministers of State, a practice not seen since former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s tenure.

Former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has been re-inducted into the cabinet and now heads the Department of Transport and Trade. Twelve MPs from Ontario’s Toronto region have found a place in the new cabinet.

Mark Carney, who assumed office as prime minister on March 14, has kept the cabinet relatively small, with just 23 ministers. Milani Jolly and Sean Fraser have been reappointed, while Indira Anita Anand retains her role in the State Department. David Joseph has been given the Defence Ministry, and Shafqat Ali has also been inducted as a minister.

The swearing-in, scheduled for 10:30 a.m., was delayed slightly but proceeded smoothly in the main hall of Rideau Hall.