PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY

October 22, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today the appointment of the Honourable Wayne Easter as Solicitor General of Canada.

The Prime Minister accepted the resignation of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay from the Cabinet.

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 WAYNE EASTER

Solicitor General of Canada

Malpeque, P.E.I.

Wayne Easter was first elected to Parliament in 1993 and re-elected in 1997 and 2000. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans from 1997 to 1999, and has chaired the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans and a Sub-Committee on Transportation. He has also served on the Standing Committees on Agriculture and Agri-Food, on Human Resources Development, and on Procedure and House Affairs.

Mr. Easter's background is in farming and as a union executive, and he is known for his longstanding work in community service. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Farmers Union from 1982 to 1993, and has been a member of the National Board and Executive Member of the Council of Canadians, and of the P.E.I. Family Farm Advisory Committee. He is a charter member of Rural Dignity of Canada.

Mr. Easter studied at Nova Scotia Agricultural College and at the University of Prince Edward Island. In 1988, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Prince Edward Island. He was also honoured in 1992 with the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada.

Mr. Easter was born in Charlottetown in 1949. He and his wife Helen have two children – Kimberley and Jamie.

CABINET COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Economic Union

Chair
The Hon. Jane Stewart

Vice-Chair
The Hon. Stéphane Dion

Members
The Hon. David Collenette
The Hon. David Anderson
The Hon. Ralph Goodale
The Hon. Sheila Copps
The Hon. Anne McLellan
The Hon. Allan Rock
The Hon. Martin Cauchon
The Hon. Pierre Pettigrew
The Hon. Don Boudria
The Hon. Lyle Vanclief
The Hon. Herb Dhaliwal
The Hon. Claudette Bradshaw
The Hon. Elinor Caplan
The Hon. Robert Thibault
The Hon. Rey Pagtakhan
The Hon. William Graham
The Hon. Gerry Byrne
The Hon. John McCallum

Social Union

Chair
The Hon. Allan Rock

Vice-Chair
The Hon. Stéphane Dion

Members
The Hon. David Anderson
The Hon. Ralph Goodale
The Hon. Sheila Copps
The Hon. Anne McLellan
The Hon. Martin Cauchon
The Hon. Jane Stewart
The Hon. Pierre Pettigrew
The Hon. Don Boudria
The Hon. Claudette Bradshaw
The Hon. Robert Nault
The Hon. Elinor Caplan
The Hon. Denis Coderre
The Hon. Sharon Carstairs
The Hon. Rey Pagtakhan
The Hon. Susan Whelan
The Hon. Wayne Easter

Special Committee of Council

Chair
The Hon. Don Boudria

Vice-Chair
The Hon. Martin Cauchon

Members
The Hon. Lucienne Robillard
The Hon. Lyle Vanclief
The Hon. Herb Dhaliwal
The Hon. Robert Nault
The Hon. Denis Coderre
The Hon. Sharon Carstairs
The Hon. Robert Thibault

Treasury Board

Chair
The Hon. Lucienne Robillard

Vice-Chair
The Hon. John Manley

Members
The Hon. Ralph Goodale
The Hon. Don Boudria
The Hon. Gerry Byrne
The Hon. John McCallum

Alternates
The Hon. Anne McLellan
The Hon. Allan Rock
The Hon. Herb Dhaliwal
The Hon. Elinor Caplan
The Hon. Sharon Carstairs
The Hon. Wayne Easter

Government Communications

Chair
The Hon. Ralph Goodale

Vice-Chair
The Hon. Lyle Vanclief

Members
The Hon. David Anderson
The Hon. Sheila Copps
The Hon. Anne McLellan
The Hon. Allan Rock
The Hon. Lucienne Robillard
The Hon. Martin Cauchon
The Hon. Stéphane Dion
The Hon. Don Boudria
The Hon. Herb Dhaliwal
The Hon. Claudette Bradshaw
The Hon. Denis Coderre
The Hon. Robert Thibault
The Hon. Rey Pagtakhan
The Hon. William Graham

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and the President of the Treasury Board are ex-officio members of the following Committees:

Economic Union
Social Union
Special Committee of Council