No, you’re not having a flashback — Lawrence MacAulay, MP for Cardigan-PEI, is back as minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, much to the surprise of many.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shuffled his cabinet July 26 ahead of the fall session of parliament, and spurred by the news of seven ministers not seeking re-election next round, whenever that election may occur.
An injured Marie-Claude Bibeau was on hand at the swearing in ceremony, though MacAulay was not, as he was back home mourning the death of his brother. Bibeau has been named as Minister of National Revenue.
Bibeau has served as agriculture minister since 2019, and was expected to stay in the post.
Since 2019, MacAulay has served as Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. He was first named ag minister in November of 2015 in Trudeau’s first cabinet.
MacAulay was first elected to the House of Commons on November 21, 1988, the same year Canada hosted the Olympics at Calgary and Elizabeth Manley was everyone’s favourite figure skater.
Also of note for Canadian agriculture, Mark Holland has been named the new minister of health and Pablo Rodriguez is in as minister of transport. Mary Ng remains trade minister, and has had the small business portion of her portfolio handed off to former ag committee member Rechie Valdez.
More to come.
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