13 May, 2025: Prime Minister Mark Carney officially introduced his first federal cabinet at Rideau Hall on May 13, 2025. The 28-member team, supported by 10 secretaries of state, reflects a careful balance of experience, gender parity, regional representation, and policy focus. This marks the beginning of what Carney called “a new era of disciplined, decisive government” with a strong mandate to reshape Canada’s economic future and its relationship with the United States.
Key Themes of the Cabinet Formation
- Gender Parity: The cabinet features 14 men and 14 women, excluding the Prime Minister.
- Regional Representation: Ministers have been selected from across all provinces and territories.
- Blend of Experience and Fresh Perspectives: Half of the ministers are seasoned politicians, while the other half are new to cabinet roles, bringing diverse expertise from various sectors.
- Focused Governance: Carney reintroduced a lean, two-tier structure, consisting of core ministers and secretaries of state tasked with advancing key priorities.
Cabinet Highlights and Portfolios
- Dominic LeBlanc: President of the King’s Privy Council and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, and “One Canadian Economy”
- François-Philippe Champagne: Retains the Finance portfolio and takes on National Revenue
- Chrystia Freeland: Returns to cabinet as Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
- Anita Anand: Appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Mélanie Joly: Takes over as Minister of Industry and Economic Development for Quebec
- Sean Fraser: Named Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, also responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
New Faces in Cabinet
- Gregor Robertson: Former Vancouver mayor, now Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister for Pacific Economic Development
- Tim Hodgson: Former Goldman Sachs and Bank of Canada adviser, now Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
- Eleanor Olszewski: Alberta MP and lawyer, appointed Minister of Emergency Management and Prairies Economic Development
- Nathalie Provost: Secretary of State (Nature), an engineer and survivor of the École Polytechnique massacre
- Evan Solomon: Ex-broadcaster, now Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister for FedDev Ontario
Complete List of Cabinet Ministers
- Shafqat Ali – President of the Treasury Board
- Rebecca Alty – Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
- Anita Anand – Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Gary Anandasangaree – Minister of Public Safety
- Rebecca Chartrand – Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs; Minister for CanNor
- François-Philippe Champagne – Minister of Finance and National Revenue
- Julie Dabrusin – Minister of Environment and Climate Change
- Sean Fraser – Minister of Justice; Minister for ACOA
- Chrystia Freeland – Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
- Steven Guilbeault – Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture; Minister for Official Languages
- Mandy Gull-Masty – Minister of Indigenous Services
- Patty Hajdu – Minister of Jobs and Families; Minister for FedNor
- Tim Hodgson – Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
- Mélanie Joly – Minister of Industry; Minister for Quebec Economic Development
- Dominic LeBlanc – Privy Council President; Minister for Canada-U.S. Trade and One Canadian Economy
- Joël Lightbound – Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement
- Heath MacDonald – Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
- Steven MacKinnon – Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
- David J. McGuinty – Minister of National Defence
- Jill McKnight – Minister of Veterans Affairs; Associate Minister of National Defence
- Lena Metlege Diab – Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
- Marjorie Michel – Minister of Health
- Eleanor Olszewski – Minister of Emergency Management; Minister for Prairies Economic Development
- Gregor Robertson – Minister of Housing and Infrastructure; Minister for Pacific Economic Development
- Maninder Sidhu – Minister of International Trade
- Evan Solomon – Minister of AI and Digital Innovation; Minister for FedDev Ontario
- Joanne Thompson – Minister of Fisheries
- Rechie Valdez – Minister of Women and Gender Equality; Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Secretaries of State (Ministry)
- Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development)
- Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement)
- Anna Gainey, Secretary of State (Children and Youth)
- Wayne Long, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)
- Stephanie McLean, Secretary of State (Seniors)
- Nathalie Provost, Secretary of State (Nature)
- Ruby Sahota, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime)
- Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development)
- Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport)
- John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour)
Two senior ministers from Justin Trudeau’s era are not a part of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet.
Jonathan Wilkinson, who previously led the environment and climate change file from 2019 to 2021 and later served as minister of energy and natural resources, confirmed his departure from the front bench in a statement on social media. Reflecting on his time in cabinet, Wilkinson called it “one of the greatest honours of my life” to have served over the past seven years.
Also exiting the cabinet is Bill Blair, the former Toronto police chief who joined Trudeau’s cabinet in 2018. Blair, who most recently served as minister of national defence, has not been reappointed to Carney’s new team.
Carney’s Vision Going Forward
Carney emphasized that this cabinet is “purpose-built” for a critical moment in Canada’s history, focused on delivering a stronger national economy, modernizing defence, and responding decisively to U.S. tariffs. He reaffirmed a pledge to lower the cost of living, promote modular homebuilding, enhance immigration policy, and reform interprovincial trade.
A First Ministers’ Meeting is scheduled for June 2 in Saskatoon to catalyze national projects. Carney also promised a middle-class tax cut by Canada Day and legislative action starting immediately as Parliament returns May 26.
Conclusion
With a blend of returning expertise and new leadership, Mark Carney’s first cabinet lays the groundwork for a proactive, economically focused government ready to face both domestic and international challenges head-on.
