Prime Minister Carney names new cabinet, including new agriculture minister

On May 13, 2025, Prime Minister Carney announced his new cabinet, which features a mix of returning and new faces.

This cabinet differs from previous ones, featuring fewer ministers and the return of Secretaries of State, who have specific roles, but are not officially part of the cabinet.

The new government plans to encourage investment and develop a resilient Canadian economy that offers higher-paying jobs, increases income, and can endure future challenges.

Key portfolios related to Canadian agriculture:

Heath MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

• Health MacDonald, a politician from Prince Edward Island, will lead efforts within Canada’s agriculture sector. MacDonald has served as the Member of Parliament for Malpeque since 2021. Before his federal role, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island in 2015, representing Cornwall-Meadowbank. He has held various ministerial positions including Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, and Minister of Finance.
• Kody Blois, the previous Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, will not be returning to this role.

Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada

• Eleanor Olszewski, from Edmonton, Alberta, has extensive experience relevant to her new role. She has served as the Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre since 2025. Olszewski holds degrees in pharmacy and law from the University of Alberta and has been a partner at an Edmonton law firm. Her background includes service as an Army reservist, a sessional lecturer, and a volunteer on healthcare and arts boards.

Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade

• Maninder Sidhu, representing Brampton East, Ontario, has been a Member of Parliament since 2019. Sidhu is an entrepreneur with experience in customs brokerage and international trade consulting. He has served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, contributing to diplomatic relations and international trade. Sidhu founded The Kindness Movement Charity to support underprivileged school children and the less fortunate in India and Canada.

Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King’s Privy Council of Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, and One Canadian Economy

• Dominic LeBlanc has been a Member of Parliament for Beauséjour since 2000. He has held various cabinet positions, including Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs since 2020, Minister of Finance, Minister of Public Safety, and Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard. LeBlanc holds degrees from the University of Toronto, the University of New Brunswick, and Harvard University.

François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue

• François-Philippe Champagne has been a Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice — Champlain since 2015. He has held various cabinet positions, including Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Minister of International Trade. Champagne holds a Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Montréal and a Master of Laws in American law from Case Western Reserve University. Before entering politics, he worked as a senior attorney and executive in several international companies.

Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

• Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has been a Member of Parliament for Toronto — Danforth since 2015. She holds degrees in law and Middle Eastern studies from McGill University and the University of Toronto. Before entering politics, Dabrusin practices law for 13 years and served as commission counsel for an inquiry into governmental procurement. She has been involved in community organizing and charitable activities, focusing on public parks and food security. Dabrusin has also held positions as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and the Minister of Natural Resources.

Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health

• Marjorie Michel has been a Member of Parliament for Papineau since 2025, succeeding former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She holds a master’s degree in social and organizational psychology from the University of Louvain in Belgium. Michel has a diverse background in public service, including roles as Director of Parliamentary Affairs for Employment and Social Development Canada and Chief of Staff to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. She has also been involved in political campaigns and community organizations, focusing on economic inclusion and women’s rights.

The full cabinet list (in alphabetical order) includes:

• 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
• François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue
• Rebecca Chartrand, Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
• Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
• Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
• Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
• Mandy Gull-Masty, Minister of Indigenous Services
• Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
• Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
• Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
• Dominic LeBlanc, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs 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 and 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 and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada
• Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada
• Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade
• Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
• Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries
• Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism)

The Cabinet will have ten Secretaries of State to offer focused leadership on important issues and priorities within their respective minister’s areas. The names are as follows:

• 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)