Canada’s Conservative Party newly elected leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during the Conservative Party Convention at the Shaw Centre, Ottawa, Canada on September 10, 2022. (Photo by Dave Chan / AFP) (Photo by DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre unveiled his shadow cabinet on Oct. 12, giving promotions to supporters and leadership competitors alike, and keeping in senior roles MPs who remained neutral during the party leadership campaign.
“Together with this team, Conservatives will take on Justinflation, fight all of Trudeau and his costly coalition’s tax hikes—including his plans to triple the expensive carbon tax—and tackle the cost-of-living crisis so that young people can buy a home, families can afford nutritious food, and our seniors can retire with dignity,” said Poilievre in a statement.
For the party’s core push on inflation, Poilievre gave the finance critic role to Jasraj Singh Hallan, a Calgary MP. Hallan previously held the post of critic for immigration.
Poilievre had announced his leadership bid on Feb. 5 and received Hallan’s endorsement on Feb. 22.
Hallan replaces Dan Albas, who now remains without a shadow cabinet role.
James Bezan was given the defence portfolio, a role he had assumed under previous leaders before his last post as ethics critic. He replaces Kerry-Lynne Findlay, whom Poilievre named as opposition whip on his leadership team.
Poilievre competed against two MP colleagues in the contest for party leadership earlier this year, Leslyn Lewis and Scott Aitchison. Neither had critic roles under interim leader Candice Bergen.
Lewis was given the infrastructure critic role and Aitchison housing in Poilievre’s shadow cabinet. Aitchison held the critic role for labour under previous leader Erin O’Toole who was ousted in early February.
Some MPs in senior roles who remained neutral during the leadership race have not been moved.
Raquel Dancho, public safety critic, and Michael Chong, foreign affairs critic, who both remained neutral during the leadership race, will continue their roles in the new shadow cabinet.
Stephen Ellis, who is a physician, previously held the deputy health critic role and served as COVID-19 advisor under Bergen and O’Toole. He was appointed health critic, replacing Michael Barrett who was moved to ethics.
New positions were created, with Marilyn Gladu named as the critic for civil liberties and Scot Davidson appointed for red tape reduction.
MPs with previous roles now finding themselves out of the shadow cabinet include John Brassard and John Nater.
John Brassard was house leader under Bergen, and Nater was heritage critic. Brassard remained neutral during the leadership race, given his house leader role, and Nater supported former Quebec premier Jean Charest.
Several other Charest supporters were appointed critic, such as Rick Perkins for industry, Gérard Deltell for environment, Joël Goding for official languages, and Karen Vecchio for women and gender equality.
