Two members of Parliament from the Maritimes are looking forward to new roles in the prime minister’s cabinet.
Central Nova MP Sean Fraser and Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor were among those who received new responsibilities following Wednesday’s cabinet shuffle.
Fraser, formerly the Minister of Immigration, will be moving into the role of Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities.
The MP was asked about how he will ensure affordable housing after saying as the immigration minister that he wanted to bring in 500,000 new Canadians by 2025.
“You got to realize that people need housing, whether they’ve been here for a dozen generations or they got here last month,” said Fraser. “The housing needs may be unique for different people who come from different communities, but the answer is, at least in part, to continue to build more stock.”
Along with this, Fraser made a point to caution people away from thinking that the answer to the housing crisis is to turn away new Canadians.
There is a great need for labour workers to help build the houses that everyone is in need of, he said.
“If we don’t continue to welcome people through thoughtful immigration policies that are going to meet the economic needs of our communities, we won’t maximize our economic potential,” said Fraser.
Petitpas Taylor, formerly Minister of Official Languages, will be moving into the role of Minister of Veterans Affairs. She was asked how she sees herself fitting into the new role.
“I have to say I’m extremely thrilled and honoured to have been asked to be the minister responsible for Veterans Affairs and also the associate minister for Defence,” said Petitpas Taylor.
Petitpas Taylor said that over the past number of years, she has held a number of portfolios, has a background in social work and in counselling, and also worked for the RCMP for 23 years before entering into politics.
“I feel that I am very well equipped to take on this portfolio,” said Petitpas Taylor. “I really want to thank Minister MacAulay, he’s done a tremendous amount of work over the past number of years and I’m just really excited to continue doing that work.”
Meanwhile, Beauséjour MP Dominic LeBlanc will now lead public safety, Lawrence MacAulay becomes agriculture minister, Seamus O’Regan is the new minister of labour and seniors, and Gudie Hutchings is the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
