Beyond The Commons

 Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Who goes where

by Aaron Wherry on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 2:39pm - 25 Comments

Peter Kent goes from Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to Minister of Environment. Diane Ablonczy goes from Minister of State for Seniors to Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Julian Fantino becomes Minister of State for Seniors. Ted Menzies goes from parliamentary secretary for finance to Minister of State for Finance.

With the promotion of Mr. Menzies and the addition of Mr. Fantino, the ministry and the cabinet will once again number 38—one short, on both counts, of the historical high mark.

Official news release after the jump.

PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO THE MINISTRY

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced changes to the Ministry at a swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall.

“Canadians have just come through a year during which the rewards of prudent financial stewardship, and of appropriate, well-timed stimulus measures have yielded dividends in jobs and growth” said Prime Minister Harper.  “It is a good note upon which to start a new year. However, the global recovery is fragile.  And there are still far too many jobless Canadians for whom the recovery has yet to become a full reality.  That is why the economy remains the number one priority for Canadians, and must remain the number one priority for our government.”

The following changes to the Ministry are effective immediately:

The Honourable Peter Kent, as Minister of the Environment, will keep advancing efforts to protect Canada’s environment and address climate change at home and abroad.

The Honourable Diane Ablonczy, as Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs), will further promote Canada’s political and trade interests in the Americas and help protect Canadians travelling and working outside of the country.

The Honourable Julian Fantino, as Minister of State (Seniors), will work towards ensuring the well-being of Canadian seniors and promote the sharing of their skills, knowledge and experience in their communities; and,

The Honourable Ted Menzies, as Minister of State (Finance), will continue to help provide economic stability and financial security for Canadians.

“This fine tuning of the Ministry will be consistent with our intention to stay the course, ” added the Prime Minister.  “This is a time for stability, not uncertainty.”

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  • ChrisB

    So is this 2 new cabinet positions created by small-government fiscally conservative Harper?

    • Amateur Hour

      Two new jobs for limo drivers, though.

      • BCer in Mtl

        They better mount "EAP" signs on top, like Hooters Ads on Taxis.

  • Emily

    Like I said….Move a couple of buttons, add a bit of yarn…and voila, a new sock puppet.

    Kent gets the knife in the back, and Fantino gets the elderly. LOL

    • Cats

      "The US has low corporate taxes"
      http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/10/21/backward-bendi…

      This is why people don't listen to you. You make factual errors and instead of acknowledging your mistakes you pretend they didn't happen.

      Hint to Emily: US HAS VERY HIGH CORPORATE TAX RATES.

      HINT CATS.

      • Emily

        And again you've misquoted me, even with it right in front of you!

        Perhaps you could look up tax rates….or at least stop being silly on here.

        • Cats

          That's a direct quote.

          Literally copy and pasted. Second comment down from second thread. LINK PROVIDED.

          How on earth am I misquoting you when you said something demonstrably false ??

          Seriously Cats!

          • Emily

            Yes, totally out of context.

            I didn't say it was either the lowest or highest in the world….I said it was low, and compared to most places it is.

            You completely missed "We'd have lower corporate tax rates, but anybody can play that game. So we cut to 15%, the UK cuts to 10, the US cuts to 5, Germany cuts to 3….and in the end we could all end up with 0% corporate taxes.

            Would that create jobs? No, it never has. Companies don't move about from country to country just to get lower corporate tax rates. A lot of other things are involved. Security, skilled workers, rule of law, healthcare etc"

            and

            " The US has low corporate taxes, has cut taxes for the rich, and taxes for the middle class, and applied a stimulus. They even have 2 wars going on which require equipment and manpower.

            Are they creating all kinds of new jobs? No."

            If you didn't race through comments trying to find a 'gotcha' to attack people with, you'd understand more of what is actually said.

          • Cats

            Oh wow. You just repeated the claim.

            "I said it was low, and compared to most places it is. "

            LOL! Its the second highest in the world !!!

            Palm Face Cats.

          • Emily

            Yes puss….in context this time, as YOU should have done

            And no, compared to most places it is.

            Hardly my fault you have no idea what it is elsewhere

            Canadians are soooo parochial

            PS…the phrase is 'facepalm' not palm face…that means you look like a coconut. LOL

  • Amateur Hour

    Peter Kent to Environment — because it might help Harper with suburban votes?
    Poor fellow. One in a long line of javelin catchers in a portfolio that the PM has no use for.
    It's too bad. Environment could be a nexus portfolio for all kinds of positive action: on energy policy, inter-provincial relations, trade, industry, jobs, international affairs (where Kent's background could be of some help), not to mention the actual environment, ahem.
    Instead, Harper can only think about dividing up portfolios based on riding projections emanating from the little shop of tories.
    Sad excuse for leadership, this Harper.

    • Thwim

      You're assuming Harper wants positive action. Given historical precedent, I see no basis for such an assumption.

  • Halo_Override

    For Prime Minister Harper, credit where credit is due — Shelly Glover still isn't in his cabinet.

    • DBM

      Minister in charge of winning the Private Members Lottery?

  • John W.

    Julian Fantino my new Seniors Minister?? My God! What did they think we were going to do?
    Seriously. Does he get guys with guns, clubs, and shields to chase down those Nortel pensioners?

    • McC_

      the pensioners are restless?

      • DBM

        Those kraftmatic adjustable beds are getting a little too high….time for a beat down.

      • hollinm

        Ask Ignatieff and Layton. They think the seniors are being hard done by.

    • TJCook

      I expect semi-coherent rants about how much better things used to be, punctuated by dozing off in his seat in Parliament.

      At least he can't do any more damage.

      • MostlyCivil

        Hold on…was he appointed to the Senate already? Somebody's gonna have to replace that new guy when he runs for the house you know…

  • Tceh

    Harper hasn't created a Ministry of Used Cars yet, but when he does Dean Del Mastro is da man!
    http://www.delmastro.ca/

    • Emily

      Harp has lots of car salesmen…

  • hollinm

    Keep it up boys and girls. You all look petty and desperate. Why don't you talk about how well Ignatieff is doing and how he will beat the crap out of Harper in the next election. Oh, I forgot you can't because he is going to lose big time. Have at it children.

    • Emily

      You look silly in those pom poms and balloons at your age hollinm.

      Had you thought of giving up cheerleading for something more suited to a grown man?

  • Tceh

    Yawn

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