KENORA – POLITICS – Bob Nault, Member of Parliament (Kenora riding), issued the following statement regarding today’s federal Cabinet shuffle:
“Today, we see five very important changes to the federal cabinet. Perhaps, most importantly for Northerners, there has been the creation of a new ministry for Rural Economic Development, headed by the Hon. Bernadette Jordan. The mandate for this new ministry includes the development of a strategy to spur economic growth and create jobs in rural Canada. She will also take action to bring high-speed internet to more rural households and businesses, and work with municipalities, provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to meet the unique and diverse infrastructure needs of rural communities.
“The Hon. Seamus O’Regan will take over as Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, a position previously held by Hon. Jane Philpott. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Minister Philpott for her dedication to Indigenous peoples, and I very much look forward to continuing the same relationship with Minister O’Regan.”
“I would also like to thank Hon. Scott Brison for his hard work and devotion as President of the Treasury Board. You have served Canadians and your constituents well, and I wish you and your family all the best.”
The Cabinet changes announced by the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau today include:
- Jane Philpott, currently Minister of Indigenous Services and Vice-Chair of the Treasury Board, becomes President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government.
- Seamus O’Regan, currently Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, becomes Minister of Indigenous Services.
- Jody Wilson-Raybould, currently Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, becomes Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence.
- David Lametti, currently Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, becomes Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
- Bernadette Jordan, currently Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Democratic Institutions, becomes Minister of Rural Economic Development.
Quick Facts:
- The Government of Canada has taken concrete measures to provide Canadians in rural and remote areas with access to voice services and broadband Internet access, including providing:
- $500 million by 2021 through the Connect to Innovate program to support new and updated infrastructure and bring high-speed Internet to 300 rural and remote communities in Canada.
- $750 million over five years through the CRTC’s Broadband Fund to support projects to build or upgrade infrastructure and provide fixed and mobile wireless broadband Internet service to underserved Canadians.
- Canadian telecommunications businesses with the ability to more quickly write off a larger share of the cost of investments in broadband infrastructure through the new Accelerated Investment Incentive.
- Since November 2015, the Government of Canada has invested more than $5.85 billion in funding for local infrastructure projects in rural and northern communities.
- Minister Jordan will be the first female minister to represent a federal riding in Nova Scotia in Canadian history.
