New ministers were appointed to federal department key to the heavy construction industry in a significant shuffle of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet.
Transport Minister Pablo Rodiguez takes up the job from Omar Alghabra, who is among seven ministers dropped from Cabinet. Alghabra has announced he is not running in the next federal election.
Rodriguez most recently served as the minister for Canadian Heritage.
The shuffle also moved Sean Fraser to lead the Housing, Infrastructure and Community department. A lawyer by trade, Fraser was most recently minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. He takes over from Dominique LeBlanc, who moved to Public Safety and retained responsibility for Intergovernmental Affairs.
Manitoba’s senior minister, Dan Vandal (Prairies, Northern Economic Development, Northern Affairs), retains his portfolios.
“We are happy to see Minister Vandal continue with his responsibilities and we will be continuing to speak with him about the need for a Canada Trade Infrastructure Plan,” MHCA President & CEO Chris Lorenc said.
“He has been very helpful to date and will be important to our moving this priority forward as we get closer to the federal fall economic update and the 2024 budget planning.”
For a complete list of the cabinet shuffle changes, click here.