MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Liberal chief Justin Trudeau, 43, takes office with a gender-balanced cabinet
Justin Trudeau announced his Cabinet with a group of ministers divided evenly between men and women, which he justified saying “it's 2015” 
His father, Pierre, was first elected prime minister in 1968 on a wave of support among voters known as “Trudeaumania” He held office for 16 years. Justin Trudeau was sworn in Wednesday as Canada's prime minister, ending 10 years of Conservative rule. Trudeau led his Liberal Party to a commanding victory in parliamentary elections last month, taking 184 seats compared with 99 for Stephen Harper's Conservative Party.
Trudeau, 43, follows in the footsteps of his late father, Pierre Trudeau, who held the office for nearly 16 years.
Just after being sworn in, Trudeau announced his Cabinet, a group of ministers divided evenly between men and women. The new ministers, who are mostly aged between 35 and 50, took their oaths in the bilingual ceremony.
After the ceremony, a reporter asked Trudeau why having a gender-balanced Cabinet was so important. The prime minister replied, “Because it's 2015.”
He issued a letter late Tuesday that promised a bill for middle-class tax cuts as his first legislative action. Trudeau also said he planned to expand Canada's engagement on the world stage as a critical piece in boosting his country's economic growth.
He announced plans to attend a flurry of international meetings in the coming weeks, including a G20 leaders summit in Turkey, the global climate change conference in Paris, APEC talks in the Philippines and a summit of Commonwealth Heads of Government in Malta.
Trudeau is the second-youngest prime minister in Canada's history. His opponents alleged during the campaign that he was inexperienced and not ready for the job. The former schoolteacher was first elected to parliament in 2008 and became head of the Liberals in 2013.
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Read all commentsTrudeau brought with him a message of bi-partisan cooperation- a refreshing change.
Nov 05th, 2015 - 03:29 pm 0Isn't that handy having an equal balance of the sexes in his cabinet?
Nov 05th, 2015 - 05:55 pm 0Could it be he has chosen weaker appointments simply due to their sex, man or woman?
The Liberals can't help themselves but always interfere where actual ability is the ONLY real option.
What a poor start.
2 chrisR
Nov 05th, 2015 - 06:24 pm 0I understand your point, but I think you should look at the education and qualifications of the people selected.
Additionally, these people are far more relevant to their posts than their predecessors under the Conservatives. For example, the Minister for the Status of Women is a woman with a Phd. This post used to be filled by a man.
The Ministers of National Defence were Bay Street money men, or career politicians. The new Minister is a highly decorated ex-soldier who did a tour of duty in Bosnia, at least two tours in Afghanistan, widely praised for his actions and leadership. He was a Lt. Col. commanding a Reserves regiment, before a distinguished career as Vancouver Police Detective, for the anti-gang squad.
Other selections are similarly appropriate.
One hopes that they will be permitted to run their ministries as they deem appropriate- that would be a welcome change from the previous administration, where power was centred in the Prime Minister's Office.
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