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Bill Blair, Adam Vaughan among new parliamentary secretaries

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has named the Liberal MPs that will make up his middle bench: those who didn't make the cut for the cabinet benches up front, but will play specific roles as parliamentary secretaries. Beyond assisting ministers, the gig can be a reward for solid performers.

Parliamentary secretaries assist, represent ministers in their absence

James Fitz-Morris · CBC News ·
Justin Trudeau revealed his cabinet just before being sworn in as prime minister in November. Now more key members of his team have been announced, with the release of a list of parliamentary secretaries two days before the Throne Speech. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has named the Liberal MPs that will make up his middle bench: those who didn't make the cut for the front bench, but also aren't relegated to the back.

Parliamentary secretaries assist and represent ministers in their absence, including taking questions in the House of Commons on the minister's behalf.

The appointments come at a busy time for the nascent government has it struggles to meet commitments on refugees and undertakes an ambitious agenda to reform the tax system and the way Members of Parliament are elected.

Trudeau's parliamentary secretaries are:

  • Celina Caesar-Chavannes (Whitby), Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
  • Adam Vaughan (Spadina-Fort York), Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Intergovernmental Affairs)
  • Peter Schiefke (Vaudreuil–Soulanges), Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Youth)
  • Michel Picard (Montarville), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
  • Jean-Claude Poissant (La Prairie), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
  •  Pamela Goldsmith-Jones (West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Omar Alghabra (Mississauga Centre), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs)
  •  Arif Virani (Parkdale–High Park), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
  • Yvonne Jones (Labrador), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs
  • Joyce Murray (Vancouver Quadra), Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
  • Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North), Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
  • Greg Fergus (Hull-Aylmer), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
  • Terry Beech (Burnaby North–Seymour), Parliamentary Secretary for Science
  • Gudie Hutchings (Long Range Mountains), Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism
  • François-Philippe Champagne (Saint-Maurice Champlain), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance
  • Sean Casey (Charlottetown), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
  • Bill Blair (Scarborough-Southwest), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
  • Leona Alleslev (Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
  • David Lametti (LaSalle-Émard-Verdun), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade
  • Kamal Khera (Brampton West), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
  • Terry Duguid (Winnipeg South), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
  • Kate Young (London West), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
  • Karina Gould (Burlington), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development
  • Kim Rudd (Northumberland-Peterborough South), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources
  • Randy Boissonnault (Edmonton Centre), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
  • Stéphane Lauzon (Argenteuil–La Petite-Nation), Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Persons with Disabilities
  • Anju Dhillon (Dorval–Lachine–LaSalle), Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women
  • Emmanuel Dubourg (Bourassa), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue
  • Karen McCrimmon (Kanata–Carleton), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
  • Jonathan Wilkinson (North Vancouver), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change
  • John McKay (Scarborough–Guildwood), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
  • Rodger Cuzner (Cape Breton–Canso), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
  • Pablo Rodriguez (Honoré-Mercier), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
  • Mark Holland (Ajax), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Democratic Institutions
  • Serge Cormier (Acadie-Bathurst), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

Beyond providing help for ministers, appointing parliamentary secretaries also helps Trudeau reward MPs and bolster the regional representation on his team.

With the added responsibilities, MPs chosen for the role also get a $16,600 raise on top of their normal MP salary of $167,400.

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