Quebecers have high hopes for Justin Trudeau's first Liberal cabinet
CBC News | Posted: November 4, 2015 10:00 AM | Last Updated: November 4, 2015
Expectations high as local leaders hope for major steps forward in health, prosperity and research
Hopes have soared in Quebec in anticipation of the naming of Justin Trudeau's first cabinet, which is expected to feature a beefed-up contingent representing the province.
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Trudeau, a lifelong Montrealer, has 39 fellow Quebec MPs to choose from, a far larger pool than his predecessor Stephen Harper's five Quebec MPs.
Marc Garneau, Mélanie Joly and former Liberal leader Stéphane Dion are the Liberal MPs thought to have an inside track on a plum cabinet post.
CBC interviewed some notable Quebecers to find out what results they hope to see from the new cabinet.
Science research
Francesca Cicchetti, a neuroscientist who is leading research into Parkinson's disease at the Université Laval, is anxious to see the cupboard restocked when it comes to funding science.
"I hope that our newly appointed Prime Minister, Mr. Trudeau, will recognize the urgent need to drastically review science policies imposed by the previous government and allocate more money to fundamental research," she said.
"Scientists have suffered from major budget cuts over the last few years and consequently several excellent laboratories have had to abandon their research programs. Major breakthroughs in health care will come from cutting-edge scientific research, and therefore it should be a priority for our government if Canada is to strengthen and maintain its worldwide leadership position in this area."
Social justice
Payam Akhavan, associate professor of law at McGill University, is hoping Trudeau's maiden cabinet devotes itself to social justice.
"The composition of the new federal cabinet is an important opportunity to build a more open and progressive political culture in Canada," he said.
"Despite the need for more experienced MPs, there is a promising and diverse new generation that should be accommodated as best as possible. The Prime Minister's commitment to gender-balance is a welcome first step but there is also a need to reflect Canada's multicultural reality, and to address the moral challenge of historical injustices.
"In particular, a record 10 aboriginal MPs have been elected, providing a unique occasion for inclusion of these long-suffering peoples, not least on decisions concerning their own future, on the path to healing and national reconciliation.
"Beyond selecting suitable MPs however, enlightened leadership will also require a new approach towards power that confronts the divisive cynicism, bickering and corruption, that so many have come to associate with political life."
Homelessness
Matthew Pearce, director of Montreal's Old Brewery Mission homeless shelter, feels that better government co-ordination should be a central focus in the effort to put roofs over everybody's heads.
"They need to deliver in meaningful way in terms of funding. In relation to homelessness, they should focus on collaborating with the other levels of governments to develop a common sense of direction leading towards the ending of homelessness, not just managing the phenomena better.
"We can radically change [people's] experience in homelessness and shorten it and eliminate homelessness as a way of living and instead make it a short segment of someone's life."
Poverty
Tommy Kulczyk, Sun Youth's assistant executive vice-president, is keeping an eye on financial policy.
"Mr. Trudeau has clearly announced he's going to make changes for the middle class. Obviously that`s something we're interested in," Kulczyk said.
"We're anxious to hear who he's naming as minister. Anything that touches the middle class and the working poor, we're interested in. We've been around for 61 years. Our job is to work with any government in place."
Environment
Steven Guilbeault, the co-founder and senior director of environmental organization Equiterre, is urging a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which he hopes to see reduced to a point of 35 per cent below 2005 levels.
"Justin Trudeau promised to make sure Canada does its share in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions. We understand it's an ambitious target, but we want to to keep global temperatures from skyrocketing."