By: Don Moors, President
With Prime Minister Mark Carney preparing to announce his first cabinet, tomorrow’s shuffle promises to offer more than just new names and titles — it will send strong signals about the government’s direction, priorities, and governing style.
There are three areas I’ll be watching closely.
1. Energy and Environment
The appointments to the energy and natural resources, and environment and climate change portfolios will be important for this Government. Prime Minister Carney has pledged a fundamentally different approach from his predecessor, especially on energy development and climate change.
One of his first policy rollouts as Liberal leader — and then a central plank of his election campaign — were robust energy development and climate strategies. Who he chooses to implement these, at times, competing strategies will carry weight across key sectors of the economy. The new Ministers will set the tone for how this government intends to navigate energy development and environmental responsibility.
Observers should also pay close attention to how Prime Minister Carney defines these portfolios. Whether he renames, or reconfigures them could indicate a new approach to managing Canada’s resource economy.
2. New Blood vs. Experience: Finding the Right Balance
The Prime Minister is widely expected to refresh his cabinet, marking a clear departure from the Trudeau era. But renewal doesn’t mean discarding experience entirely.
Several high-profile recruits from the 2025 class are being closely watched. These include:
- Carlos Leitão, former Quebec Finance Minister
- Gregor Robertson, former Mayor of Vancouver
- Tim Hodgson, senior business executive and an ally to Prime Minister Carney
- Nathalie Provost, survivor of the École Polytechnique massacre and a leading voice on gun control
Bringing in new voices while maintaining a degree of continuity will be critical — not only for competence but also for stakeholder reassurance in sectors where relationships and institutional knowledge matter.
3. Structure and Style: A Leaner, More Streamlined Government
The Prime Minister has repeatedly emphasized his commitment to a more efficient and results-driven government. He’s already signalled this through a smaller pre-election cabinet, and we expect tomorrow’s announcement to reflect that same focus.
Key questions include:
- How will cabinet committees be structured to support decision-making?
- Will the government prioritize execution over process?
- How will ministers approach consultation — especially in sectors that rely on regulatory predictability and engagement?
These changes matter not just symbolically but practically. The effectiveness of this leaner cabinet will depend on how roles are defined, how quickly decisions are made, and how well ministers are supported by staff from both their offices and the Prime Minister’s office.
Economic Growth in Focus
Ultimately, Prime Minister Carney has made it clear: economic growth will be central to his agenda. How he shapes the finance, ISED and energy portfolios — and who he chooses to lead them — will speak volumes about where the government is headed.
For stakeholders, industry leaders, and government relations professionals, tomorrow’s cabinet lineup won’t just be a reshuffling of names. It will be the first, and perhaps most revealing, glimpse of how Prime Minister Carney plans to govern.
