High profile Montrealer Steven Guilbeault, a freshman MP, represents a Quebec riding like the two previous Ministers of Canadian Heritage chosen by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Mélanie Joly and Pablo Rodríguez remain in Cabinet.
He was elected in the riding of Laurier—Sainte Marie, previously held by New Democrat Hélène Laverdière who did not run in the 2019 election.
Read his official bio here.
His commitment to climate change is good news for those of us looking for strong voices on the topic around the cabinet table even if his ability to speak openly on the topic will be muted by constraints of cabinet solidarity.
Will he bring the energy evident in his championing the environment to his new role with Canadian Heritage?
Having worked in the field of local history, archives, and heritage all my professional and volunteer life, I have little hope that a new Minister of Heritage will mean anything different from the last two in the Liberal Government, or preceding that, the Harper Conservative government.
ReplyDeleteAll previous ministers have paid little attention to heritage in any way. Museums, local history societies, art galleries ---- mean nothing anymore. Any stress has been on Broadcasting, not cultural institutions as such. Just a personal opinion.
Gail B