7 new faces at cabinet table as Trudeau unveils his inner circle

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled his new cabinet today, bringing seven new faces to the table and tweaking the machinery of government to tackle western alienation and Liberal policy priorities such as fighting climate change, boosting the middle class and Indigenous reconciliation.

Chrystia Freeland was named deputy prime minister and minister of intergovernmental affairs, tasked with addressing mounting political frustration in Saskatchewan and Alberta. The former foreign affairs minister will now exercise her considerable diplomatic skills at home, working to build bridges with premiers who have been vocal opponents of the Trudeau government's carbon price policy and lack of progress on building a new pipeline.

This is the first time Trudeau has named a deputy PM. The role comes with no formal duties but usually involves ceremonial functions — such as filling in for the prime minister during question period — and important policy roles.

Freeland is expected to play a leadership role across the cabinet, and to work directly with Trudeau and other ministers on key federal-provincial issues such as energy and environmental programs, health and infrastructure. She also will continue to oversee Canada-U.S. relations and to shepherd the trilateral trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico past the finish line.

Freeland is just the tenth deputy PM in Canadian history. The last one was Anne McLellan under then-prime minister Paul Martin.

Jim Carr, who is receiving treatment for blood cancer, is stepping outside of cabinet to take on a new role as the prime minister's special representative for the Prairies. He is said to be tasked with acting as Trudeau's "eyes and ears" in the region, after the Liberals were shut out of Alberta and Saskatchewan in the recent federal election.

Two other people have been dropped from cabinet: Kirsty Duncan and Ginette Petitpas Taylor. Duncan has been named deputy House leader and Petitpas Taylor is the new deputy whip — roles which give them some responsibility for keeping the minority government's agenda on track.

Others were promoted for what were seen as strong performances during the Trudeau government's first term. Patty Hajdu will preside over the health portfolio as the government takes steps to bring in a national pharmacare program.

Bill Blair, who was in charge of border security and gun control, will take on the public safety ministry, a huge file that includes overseeing the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency, Corrections Canada and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

Blair also will be tasked with delivering on campaign commitments to bring in more gun control measures, including a promise to ban assault-style rifles.

Trudeau is bringing new faces to significant roles. Marco Mendicino is the new immigration minister, Mona Fortier will be the minister in charge of the new portfolio of "middle class prosperity" and Marc Miller is taking on Indigenous services.

Two newly elected MPs also have been trusted with key cabinet posts: Anita Anand takes on the public service and procurement file and Steven Guilbeault is in charge of heritage.

Deb Schulte and Dan Vandal are joining cabinet as well — Schulte in the seniors portfolio and Vandal in northern affairs.

As reported earlier, François-Philippe Champagne is getting a promotion to foreign affairs.

On his way in to Rideau Hall, Champagne called it a "great day."

"There are a lot of challenges and opportunities ahead for Canada, so I look forward to that new role," he said.

Champagne takes on the post as Canada works to pass the trade deal with the U.S. and Mexico, and to secure the release of two Canadians detained in China.

Trudeau is keeping a trusted hand on the wheel in the crucial finance portfolio, keeping Bill Morneau as minister.

On his way into the ceremony, Morneau said he will continue to ensure the economy is strong for all Canadians.

"It's very important for us to continue to improve conditions for Canadians across the country and we clearly want to deal with climate change, an issue that was talked about a lot in the campaign, and it's an important issue for a lot of Canadians," he said.

Jean-Yves Duclos is the new president of the Treasury Board, Bardish Chagger takes on the "diversity, inclusion and youth" file, Pablo Rodriguez becomes House leader and the government's Quebec lieutenant, Karina Gould goes to international development and Seamus O'Regan takes on the natural resources ministry.

Of the 35 members of the new cabinet, seven are from Montreal and 11 are from the Greater Toronto Area.

The other people swapping ministries are:

• Ahmed Hussen, going to families, children and social development.
• Mélanie Joly, to economic development and official languages, in charge of regional development agencies.
• Bernadette Jordan, to fisheries and oceans.
• Catherine McKenna, to infrastructure and communities.
• Dominic LeBlanc, now president of the Queen's privy council, chair of the operations committee.
• Joyce Murray, to digital government.
• Mary Ng, to small business export promotion and international trade  .
• Carla Qualtrough, to employment, workforce development and disability inclusion.
• Jonathan Wilkinson, to environment.
• Filomena Tassi, to labour.

And the ministers who are staying put include:

• Navdeep Bains, innovation, science and industry
• Carolyn Bennett, Crown-Indigenous relations
• Marie-Claude Bibeau, agriculture
• Marc Garneau, transport
• David Lametti, justice
• Diane Lebouthillier, national revenue
• Lawrence MacAulay, veterans affairs
• Maryam Monsef, women and gender equality, plus rural economic development
• Harjit Sajjan, defence

Mark Holland will remain in the non-cabinet role of chief government whip, while Kevin Lamoureux will serve as parliamentary secretary to the House leader.

Trudeau's first cabinet had 31 ministers, including himself. By the time Parliament was dissolved for this year's election, it had grown to 35 ministers.

All of Trudeau's ministers were re-elected in October except for Ralph Goodale and Amarjeet Sohi, who both lost their seats.