Opposition leaders slam Harper's cabinet shuffle

Opposition leaders say Prime Minister Stephen Harper's new cabinet does little to alter the government's course on controversial issues and fails to bring more women into the cabinet.

Among the changes in the shuffle on Tuesday, Peter MacKay has replaced Gordon O'Connor as the new minister of defence, while Maxime Bernier moves from industry to foreign affairs and Jim Prentice moves from Indian affairs to industry.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion said the changes don't mean much. He told CTV's Canada AM on Wednesday he was disappointed the new ministers didn't own up to mistakes made by their predecessors, and pledge to do better.

"The ministers repeated the mantra of the prime minister: We did everything perfectly and this shuffle is only there to have better communicators to explain more to Canadians the policies that we are making. So that's why I'm disappointed," Dion said.

New Democrat Leader Jack Layton agreed the shuffle is more about optics than substance. He said the NDP wanted to see a change of direction on key policies such as Canada's role in Afghanistan, but that didn't happen.

"We needed a change in direction on the economy and we needed a change in direction on Afghanistan, bringing Mr. Mackay in -- who of course has supported the war in Afghanistan -- to replace Mr. O'Connor is not the kind of change that Canadians were looking for," Layton told Canada AM.

"He had to reboot his cabinet, and he didn't succeed."

Layton also said Harper's new cabinet didn't make any progress on bringing more women into ministerial roles. The new cabinet has 26 full ministers and only seven of them are women.

Prentice, the newly appointed industry minister, said the changes were more about continuity than making big changes in direction.

"It represents the steps that the prime minister wants to take to move forward with our mandate," Prentice told Canada AM.

"And that will certainly include a focus on the economy, keeping the economy strong, keeping taxes low, representing the interests of Canadian families and carrying on with all the other good work that the government has done in terms of rebuilding the military, putting the interests of families first and foremost and taking concrete action on the environment."

During his announcement on Tuesday, Harper acknowledged Afghanistan was an important factor in the shuffle.

O'Connor, the retired general and Ontario MP who has been shuffled out of the defence portfolio, was criticized as a poor communicator on the issue.

"The Afghan mission remains Canada's most important military and foreign affairs commitment in the world," Harper told reporters.

"We know there are challenges there. At the same time, the United Nations wants us there and we made a commitment to our allies and the Afghan people."

Bernier, a Quebec MP first elected in 2006, has risen quickly through the ranks to move from industry to foreign affairs, replacing MacKay.

"He's a young minister and he has a very strong point of view on economic situations, and also for the development of the government," said Harper.

"He has earned a new challenge, and I hope and I believe he will represent Canada in a very efficient way on the world scene."

Bernier will also be tasked with drumming up support for the Afghanistan mission in Quebec, where polls show little enthusiasm for Canada's military efforts in the war-torn country.

The Conservative minority government is expected to shift to a "second phase" with Wednesday's shuffle held at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

The prime minister is expected to prorogue Parliament, deliver a throne speech and move to a new agenda beyond the five priorities it touted in the 2006 election campaign.

Some other cabinet moves:

Saskatchewan MP Gerry Ritz becomes agriculture minister, having been a secretary of state for tourism. He replaces fellow Saskatchewan MP and Revenue Minister Carol Skelton, who has announced she won't run again.
O'Connor becomes revenue minister.
Another new face in cabinet is Alberta MP Diane Ablonczy, who replaces Ritz.
Current Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl, a B.C. MP, becomes Indian Affairs minister.
Quebec MP Josee Verner becomes heritage minister, swapping jobs with Ontario's Bev Oda, who becomes international development minister.

Jim Flaherty kept his post as finance minister, despite enduring a backlash for the government's decision to tax income trusts -- essentially breaking an earlier campaign promise, and coming under fire for the government's equalization formula with the provinces.

Add New Comment ( )

Phil
said
0 0

Why am I not surprised that the opposition Liberals, NDP and Bloc are surprised that Harper's cabinet shuffle does not change his government's direction? Last I heard he was a Conservative putting forward Conservative policies and generally managing a minority government quite well. Had he not been doing so well, those opposition parties could have brought the government down on several occasions.

Why didn't they do so? Maybe because Harper said he had no plans for an election before the mandate was up, and it suits them to be drawing a parliamentarian;s pay cheque for another couple of years instead of having to get the people's permission to dine at the publis trough on our tax dollars.

debbie koch
said
0 0

All you conservatives are the same. Stephen Harper is the BIG HERO. How many promises has he broken since he got into power. maybe you've all over looked that. The only thing smart that he has done since he got in was finally put a Sask MP into the Ag Minister seat. How about that, a guy that maybe actually grew up around farming to deal with farming. What a concept! Maybe he can finally straighten things out.

Gord
said
0 0

How refreshing it is to read these comments. It's a shame our politics doesn't employ the same clarity and common sense. I'd vote for some of these people. Occasionally I switch over and watch UK Parliament. Their opposition still opposes but with much greater level of civility and intelligence. I understand that oppositions are in competition but why can’t our politicians be a bit brighter. Keep up the good work Harper.

Richard Parks
said
0 0

If the conservative government was doing so well they wouldn't need a cabinet shuffle. The fact is that the majority of Canadians support our troops but don't support the war in Afghanistan. And as a result Steve had to shuffle his cabinet to clean up their image on the war in Afghanistan.

As pointed out by Jack Layton the appointment of Peter MacKay will not change the direction of the government on Afghanistan. As a result our soldiers, and innocent Afghan's will continue to be victims of a failed foreign policy being driven by Stephen Harper.

And as for Alberta and the strenght of our economy, Calgary has one of the highest homelessness rates in all of Canada. Currently the majority of large cities in Alberta are suffering from a severe lack of affordable housing. Survey's have showed that the majority of people living here don't feel the oilboom has benefited them. And last but not least Albertan's are forced to work more hours then any other province in Canada leaving little time for enjoying time with family and friends.

The fact is that the prosperity gap continues to grow every year and that is why we have opposistion leaders like Jack Layton and Stephane Dion to remind the government that all is not well in Canada!

David
said
0 0

Last time I checked the full title for the opposition party was, "The Loyal Opposition" The inclusion of the word loyal indicates they do not have a mandate to oppose everything, just what is unjust. The way our opposition parties undermine the elected government often crosses this line and displays their disloyalty to the Canadian public.

Raymond
said
0 0

If Layton and Dion are slamming Harper's cabinet shuffle, then the Prime Minister has indeed made the correct moves, and in the best interests of Canadians. A nod to you, Mr. Harper.

John Grosvenor
said
0 0

I believe the Harper government is moving in the right direction. Our economy is strong and we are committed to helping the people of Afghanistan. In politics communication of tasks is the key to success. Dion and Layton both dropping slightly in the polls, have no choice but to go on the defensive.

Valentin Erikson
said
0 0

Thank you, Mr. Harper for announcing a new ministry that will keep the Government moving forward and delivering the change that Canadians voted for on January 23rd 2006. The new ministry will maintain continuity on key files, allow strong ministers to vary their experience and position the right people in the right places to execute the next part of the government’s agenda.

I think this is a great cabinet!

shannon
said
0 0

I realize the Opposition takes it's title very seriously, to oppose. Do they not realize how ridiculous they appear when they criticize absolutely everything that a successful government does? They need to find something meaningful to talk about. Oh, wait, Prime Minister Harper has already done that.

Martin
said
0 0

Since when does Jack Layton or the far left NDP ever speak for average Canadians? I resent him even suggesting that he knows what Canadians want.

Monty
said
0 0

Aside from all the political agendas, is it honestly really necessary for the opposition to have to criticize and focus on the negatives of everything that the government does? I mean this brings no real change, then why make so many negative statements about it in the first place. It's a waste of their breathe and our time.

Matt
said
0 0

Well put, Steve T. Unfortunately it's just as predictably boring, contrived, and valueless for a bunch of no-lifers to subsequently post their blindly partisan and ignorant opinions all over the Internet once any gov't makes a move like this.

Rob
said
0 0

Unfortunately our current government is more worried about appearances then doing what is right. When all is said and done the Conservative government is planning not for the future but for tomorrow’s release of statistics.

Ed
said
0 0

How dare someone suggest that a strong economy, strong military or a sovereign country are anything to be proud of. We need un-elected judges and senators, we need corrupt Liberals, we need people appointed based on sex.

Craig
said
0 0

...and how, John. Add to that the criticism of the female representation. Let's take a peek: 14/125 Conservative MPs are women. 7/26 full ministers are women. What does that mean? A full 50% of female Conservative MPs are in cabinet. Looks like solid representation to me. Talk about grasping for straws - maybe the opposition should get back on that ATM issue he was all over not too long ago; it was less contrived.

Ian Whitecross
said
0 0

The Liberals are corrupt and it has been proven and yet they have the nerve to say anything about a party that has followed through on promises and make a difference on the world stage? Good luck Steven Harper.

AL
said
0 0

Harper will NOT get the majority he wants.

He is losing support in the west in a big way, mainly because of Flaherty.

And yet he left Flaherty in the most important position of all, controlling the money.

We in the west are still waiting for the big tax cuts that we were voting for.

Duped again, by another Ontario politician.

johnn
said
0 0

I can never get used to the idea that the role of the Opposition seems to be "to oppose".
I guess to then that means that you oppose what the government is doing, regardless whether it is right or wrong - and specifically so when it is right.
Well done, Mr. Prime Minister!

Steve T
said
0 0

Oh my goodness - the opposition doesn't like the cabinet shuffle? What a shock!
C'mon folks, haven't we realized this is one of the features of our parliamentary system. The opposition hates everything the government does. Always. Period. The Conservatives did it when they were in opposition, and now the Liberals do it. It's boring, contrived, and adds nothing of value. Yawn!

Jesse
said
0 0

It's sure rich that Dion is talking about woman in government. When he shuffled his shadow cabinet he replaced his deputy leader with a man and gave Belinda Stronach the shaft.

cloke
said
0 0

Affirmative action that is to say appoint more minorities, womem etc is a poor substitute for appointing the best PERSON for the job. I do not know if Mr. Harper has succeeded in this but I give him a mark of 100% for his efforts.

Ian Ridpath
said
0 0

I am more than happy to give Stephen Harper and the Conservatives more time to finally get things right in Canada after more than a decade of pathetic flip-flops, personal greed, pathetic compromise and paranoid actions bordering on the criminal given us by the Liberals.

"Shuffle-on" I say.

No party or person is perfect nor free from fault - but everyone should be given time to prove their ability.

John's comments are 100% 'spot on'!

steve
said
0 0

The Conservative government is not responsible for our good economy or low unemployment rates, but they are responsible for a healthy, prosperous and secure Alberta. The only thing the Conservatives have accomplished in their mandate is the protection of their own interests.
There's more to Canada than Alberta!

John
said
0 0

Now let me get this straight, one of the strongest economies in the world, lowest unemployment rate in decades, a proper presence around the world, a strengthened military, steps to ensure the Arctic is seen as ours, expanded protected zones in parks....and the "learned" opposition wanted the government to change direction? They can't be that obtuse to reality can they? Ooops sorry, they are politicians and not in power, I lost my head.