Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his new cabinet were sworn in on Wednesday morning.
As promised, the cabinet features 15 women and 15 men.
When asked why he chose to appoint an equal number of men and women, Trudeau’s answer was simple: because it’s 2015.
His cabinet includes three BC MPs.
Jody Wilson-Raybould has been named minister of Justice, Harjit Sajjan is Canada’s new Defense minister and Carla Qualtrough is Minister for sport and persons with disabilities.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa spotlight shifts to the conservatives on Thursday, when they meet to start the process of choosing an interim leader.
Political analyst, and former VIU prof, Allan Warnke says while that interim leader will come from the party’s 99 MPs, there’s a good chance they’ll look outside the caucus for a long-term leader.
Warnke also says it’s likely the Conservatives new leader will come from Western Canada.
And, the new Liberal cabinet includes a couple Indigenous MPs, and the Director of VIU’s Centre for Pre-Confederation Treaties and Reconciliation says that’s a major step forward.
Doug White says it’s historic in terms of what it projects about the different path Canada’s now on.
White says Trudeau has made it clear Canada’s shifting back towards a country that’s governed by cabinet, rather than the prime minister’s office.
He says that means Wilson-Raybould and the cabinet ministers will wield significant influence.
