Prime Minister Announces New Ministry


August 3, 1999
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced a renewed Ministry that will lead the government and Canadians into the 21st Century.

In announcing the changes, the Prime Minister highlighted his government's significant achievements since 1993, emphasizing that his government has maintained the confidence of Canadians throughout this period. "Our renewed team is well placed to meet the challenges facing us in the years to come," said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude for the distinguished service and the contribution made to Canada and to the government's achievements by the following Ministers who are leaving the Cabinet:

The Honourable Sergio Marchi
The Honourable Diane Marleau
The Honourable Marcel Massé
The Honourable Christine Stewart
The Honourable Fred J. Mifflin

Highlights of today's announcement include the following changes.

New Appointments to the Cabinet

The Prime Minister welcomed the following new members of his Cabinet:

  • The Honourable Martin Cauchon as Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)

  • The Honourable George Baker as Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

  • The Honourable Robert Nault as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

  • The Honourable Maria Minna as Minister for International Cooperation

  • The Honourable Elinor Caplan as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

  • The Prime Minister also announced the following changes of responsibilities of present members of the Ministry:

  • The Honourable David Anderson as Minister of the Environment

  • The Honourable Lucienne Robillard as President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for Infrastructure

  • The Honourable Jane Stewart as Minister of Human Resources Development

  • The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew as Minister for International Trade

  • The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

    Secretaries of State

    In addition, the Prime Minister welcomed into the Ministry:

  • The Honourable Denis Coderre as Secretary of State (Amateur Sport).

    The position of Secretary of State (Amateur Sport) has been created to assist the Minister of Canadian Heritage in coordinating the government's amateur sports priorities, both in Canada and internationally, and in considering the recent reports that deal with challenges facing amateur sports in Canada.

    The Prime Minister also announced the following changes of responsibilities of present Secretaries of State:

  • The Honourable Ronald Duhamel will, in addition to his current responsibilities as Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification), assume responsibilities as Secretary of State (Francophonie).

    The position of Secretary of State (Francophonie) has been created to assist the Minister of Foreign Affairs in managing Canada's relations with the countries of La Francophonie and international institutions of La Francophonie.

  • The Honourable Andrew Mitchell will become Secretary of State (Rural Development)(Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario).

    The position has been created to assist the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in pursuing and coordinating the government-wide initiatives set out in the Federal Framework for Action in Rural Canada, as well as the Minister of Industry in considering the economic development needs of small and medium sized businesses in Northern Ontario. The position of Secretary of State (Parks), that Mr. Mitchell previously held, has been eliminated now that the Parks Canada Agency has been created.

  • The Honourable Gilbert Normand, who was previously Secretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food)(Fisheries and Oceans), becomes Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development).

    A list of the full Ministry according to precedence, the amended Cabinet committee membership list and biographical notes are attached.

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    PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

    THE HONOURABLE GEORGE BAKER

    Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

    Constituency: Gander–Grand Falls (Newfoundland)

    George Baker was first elected to the House of Commons in 1974, and has been re-elected at every subsequent federal election. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Environment from 1975 to 1976, and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue in 1976. In Opposition, he served as Party Critic for Atlantic Development in 1989, and Associate Party Critic for the Treasury Board in 1990. Since 1993, he has served on the House Standing Committees on Finance, Trade and Economic Affairs, Fisheries and Oceans, Miscellaneous Estimates, Transport, Government Operations, and Procedure and House Affairs.

    Mr. Baker studied political science and economics at Memorial University of Newfoundland and at the University of New Brunswick. He was formerly Chief Clerk of the Newfoundland Legislative Assembly, and worked as radio and television announcer and producer for CBC, Newfoundland.

    THE HONOURABLE ELINOR CAPLAN

    Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

    Constituency: Thornhill (Ontario)

    Elinor Caplan entered the federal arena after an extensive and successful career at the provincial level from 1985 to 1997. In the Government of Ontario, she served as Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet, Minister of Government Services, and Minister of Health. Elected as a Member of Parliament in 1997, Mrs. Caplan has served on the House Standing Committees on Health and on Procedure and House Affairs. In 1998, she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.

    Mrs. Caplan also served for almost seven years as Alderman in the City of North York. From 1973 to 1978, she was President of Elinor Caplan and Associates, a firm specializing in real estate title searching and conveyancing.

    THE HONOURABLE DENIS CODERRE

    Secretary of State (Amateur Sport)

    Constituency: Bourassa (Quebec)

    Denis Coderre was elected to the House of Commons in 1997. He has served on the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages, the House Standing Committees on Agriculture and Agri-Food, Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, and Canadian Heritage, including the Sub-Committee on the Study of Sport in Canada.

    Mr. Coderre's political experience has included senior posts within the Liberal Party of Canada in Quebec, and he also worked in the office of the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. He was a radio host on CKVL from 1990 to 1993, and was Vice President of Public Affairs for Groupe Polygone éditeurs, an organization involved in hunting and fishing in Quebec. Mr. Coderre has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Montreal.

    THE HONOURABLE MARIA MINNA

    Minister for International Cooperation

    Constituency: Beaches–East York (Ontario)

    First elected to the House of Commons in 1993, Maria Minna served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration from 1996 to 1998. She has also served on the House Standing Committees on Citizenship and Immigration, Health, and Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, including the Sub-Committee on Children & Youth at Risk.

    Before her election as Member of Parliament, Ms. Minna was Vice President of MacBain Public Affairs, a consulting firm. She served for 11 years as President of COSTI-IIAS, Canada's largest immigrant services organization. She was also a founding member of the National Action Committee on Immigrant and Visible Minority Women, and a member of the National Advisory Committee of the Women's Legal, Education and Action Fund (LEAF). She is a past Director of the National Council on Welfare and the United Way of Greater Toronto. Ms. Minna has a B.A. (Hons.) in sociology from the University of Toronto.

    THE HONOURABLE ROBERT NAULT

    Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

    Constituency: Kenora–Rainy River (Ontario)

    First elected to the House of Commons in 1988, Bob Nault was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour in 1995, and to the Minister of Human Resources Development in 1996 and again in 1997. He has also served on the House Standing Committees on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Human Resources Development, Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Natural Resources, and Health, as well as on the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. From 1984 to 1986, he was a member of the Canada-U.S. Interparliamentary Group.

    Mr. Nault contributed to the civic life of the town of Kenora as Municipal Councillor from 1985 to 1988. Before entering Parliament, he was a railway conductor and also served as Vice-General Chairman and Local Chair of the United Transportation Union. He studied political science and recreational administration at the University of Alberta and at the University of Winnipeg.

    THE CANADIAN MINISTRY (in order of precedence)

    The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien
    Prime Minister

    The Honourable Herbert Eser Gray
    Deputy Prime Minister

    The Honourable Lloyd Axworthy
    Minister of Foreign Affairs

    The Honourable David Michael Collenette
    Minister of Transport

    The Honourable David Anderson
    Minister of the Environment

    The Honourable Ralph E. Goodale
    Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board

    The Honourable Sheila Copps
    Minister of Canadian Heritage

    The Honourable John Manley
    Minister of Industry

    The Honourable Paul Martin
    Minister of Finance

    The Honourable Arthur C. Eggleton
    Minister of National Defence

    The Honourable Anne McLellan
    Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

    The Honourable Allan Rock
    Minister of Health

    The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
    Solicitor General of Canada

    The Honourable Alfonso Gagliano
    Minister of Public Works and Government Services

    The Honourable Lucienne Robillard
    President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure

    The Honourable Martin Cauchon
    Minister of National Revenue and Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec)

    The Honourable Jane Stewart
    Minister of Human Resources Development

    The Honourable Stéphane Dion
    President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

    The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew
    Minister for International Trade

    The Honourable Don Boudria
    Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

    The Honourable Bernard Alasdair Graham
    Leader of the Government in the Senate

    The Honourable Lyle Vanclief
    Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

    The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal
    Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

    The Honourable Claudette Bradshaw
    Minister of Labour

    The Honourable George Baker
    Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

    The Honourable Robert Daniel Nault
    Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

    The Honourable Maria Minna
    Minister for International Cooperation

    The Honourable Elinor Caplan
    Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

    The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew
    Secretary of State (Children and Youth)

    The Honourable Raymond Chan
    Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific)

    The Honourable Hedy Fry
    Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)

    The Honourable David Kilgour
    Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)

    The Honourable James Scott Peterson
    Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)

    The Honourable Ronald J. Duhamel
    Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie)

    The Honourable Andrew Mitchell
    Secretary of State (Rural Development) (Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)

    The Honourable Gilbert Normand
    Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development)

    The Honourable Denis Coderre
    Secretary of State (Amateur Sport)

    August 1999
    août 1999

    CABINET COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP/
    COMPOSITION DES COMITÉS DU CABINET

    Economic Union/Union économique

    Chair/Président
    The Hon./L'hon. Ralph Goodale

    Vice-Chair/Vice-président
    The Hon./L'hon. Arthur Eggleton

    Members/Membres
    The Hon./L'hon. Lloyd Axworthy
    The Hon./L'hon. David Collenette
    The Hon./L'hon. David Anderson
    The Hon./L'hon. Sheila Copps
    The Hon./L'hon. John Manley
    The Hon./L'hon. Anne McLellan
    The Hon./L'hon. Alfonso Gagliano
    The Hon./L'hon. Martin Cauchon
    The Hon./L'hon. Jane Stewart
    The Hon./L'hon. Pierre Pettigrew
    The Hon./L'hon. Don Boudria
    The Hon./L'hon. Alasdair Graham
    The Hon./L'hon. Lyle Vanclief
    The Hon./L'hon. Herb Dhaliwal
    The Hon./L'hon. Claudette Bradshaw
    The Hon./L'hon. George Baker

    Social Union/Union sociale

    Chair/Présidente
    The Hon./L'hon. Anne McLellan

    Vice-Chair/Vice-président
    The Hon./L'hon. Allan Rock

    Members/Membres
    The Hon./L'hon. David Anderson
    The Hon./L'hon. Ralph Goodale
    The Hon./L'hon. Sheila Copps
    The Hon./L'hon. Lawrence MacAulay
    The Hon./L'hon. Alfonso Gagliano
    The Hon./L'hon. Jane Stewart
    The Hon./L'hon. Stéphane Dion
    The Hon./L'hon. Pierre Pettigrew
    The Hon./L'hon. Claudette Bradshaw
    The Hon./L'hon. George Baker
    The Hon./L'hon. Robert Nault
    The Hon./L'hon. Maria Minna
    The Hon./L'hon. Elinor Caplan

    Special Committee of Council/Comité spécial du Conseil

    Chair/Président
    The Hon./L'hon. Herb Gray

    Vice-Chair/Vice-présidente
    The Hon./L'hon. Anne McLellan

    Members/Membres
    The Hon./L'hon. Alfonso Gagliano
    The Hon./L'hon. Lucienne Robillard
    The Hon./L'hon. Don Boudria
    The Hon./L'hon. Alasdair Graham
    The Hon./L'hon. Lyle Vanclief
    The Hon./L'hon. Herb Dhaliwal
    The Hon./L'hon. Claudette Bradshaw
    The Hon./L'hon. Robert Nault

    Treasury Board/Conseil du Trésor

    Chair/Présidente
    The Hon./L'hon. Lucienne Robillard

    Vice-Chair/Vice-président
    The Hon./L'hon. Paul Martin

    Members/Membres
    The Hon./L'hon. Arthur Eggleton
    The Hon./L'hon. Alfonso Gagliano
    The Hon./L'hon. Herb Dhaliwal
    The Hon./L'hon. George Baker

    Alternates/Suppléants
    The Hon./L'hon. Herb Gray
    The Hon./L'hon. Ralph Goodale
    The Hon./L'hon. Anne McLellan
    The Hon./L'hon. Lawrence MacAulay
    The Hon./L'hon. Don Boudria
    The Hon./L'hon. Alasdair Graham
    The Hon./L'hon. Elinor Caplan

    The Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and the President of the Treasury Board are ex-officio members of the following Committees/le vice-Premier ministre, le ministre des Finances et le président du Conseil du Trésor sont membres ex-officio des comités suivants:

    Economic Union/Union économique
    Social Union/Union sociale
    Special Committee of Council/Comité spécial du Conseil

    The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons is an ex-officio member of the Social Union Committee/le leader du gouvernement à la Chambre des communes est membre ex-officio du comité chargé de l'Union sociale.


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