CHFCA Welcomes the Federal Cabinet Shuffle

July 28, 2023

OTTAWA – On July 26, 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced changes to the Federal Cabinet, which includes the appointment of seven new ministers. The government aims to underscore its commitment to the environment, economy, and affordability through this shuffle.

For the Canadian hydrogen and fuel cell sector, the core of elected officials responsible for government departments relevant to the sector that have remained in their posts are the following:

  • Jonathan Wilkinson remains the Minister responsible for Natural Resources, however, has a new title as the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
  • Francois-Phillipe Champaigne remains as Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry.
  • Mary Ng is the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, and Economic Development, a slight shift from her previous portfolio which also included Small Business.
  • Melanie Joly remains as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
  • Seamus O’Regan remains as Minister of Labour and Seniors.
  • Chrystia Freeland remains as Minister of Finance.
  • Steven Guilbeault remains as Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The new appointments to posts relevant to the sector are the following:

  • Pablo Rodriguez, formerly the Minister of Canadian Heritage, has been appointed as the Minister of Transport. In this role, Minister Rodriguez will be responsible for managing the government’s rail, zero-emissions vehicles, and ports policies and regulations. Minister Rodriguez’s over-decade-long career as a Member of Parliament spans the fulfillment of various roles, including Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, a long-standing member of several Standing Committees before his first cabinet appointment in 2018, most notably the Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, and since 2019 has been the Liberal Caucus’ Quebec lieutenant.
  • Rechie Valdez becomes the Minister of Small Business. As Minister of Small Business, Minister Valdez will be responsible for supporting and promoting small businesses in Canada. She has been a member of various parliamentary committees and associations since her election in 2021, and before entering politics owned and operated a small business.
  • Hon. Gary Anandasangaree becomes the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. In this role, Minister Anandasangaree will be responsible for managing the federal government’s relationships with Indigenous nations and communities in their pursuit of meaningful reconciliation. Minister Anandasangaree is an internationally recognized human rights lawyer with experience in the legal and community activist fields, advocating for education and justice. Minister Anandasangaree has previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism.

President and CEO of the CHFCA, Ivette Vera-Perez, welcomes the cabinet shuffle: “By nature of the enormous breadth of industry that hydrogen covers, many federal departments – including energy and resources, transport, climate, innovation, labour, infrastructure, trade and finance – have crucial roles to play in the advancement of Canada’s hydrogen economy. The CHFCA looks forward to engaging both current and incoming ministers to continue driving progress in Canada’s hydrogen sector and solidify our country’s global leadership position.”

The CHFCA will be reaching out to the new Cabinet Ministers and will be closely monitoring for any additional departmental changes that may come. The CHFCA and our members look forward to working with all new Ministers and their teams to ensure Canada’s hydrogen sector thrives!

 

About the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA)

The Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) is a national association that supports industry, academia, government agencies, financial organizations and other stakeholders focused on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and products. As the collective voice of Canada’s world-leading hydrogen and fuel cell sector, the CHFCA’s mission is to strengthen Canadian leadership, raise awareness of the benefits of the technology, and accelerate the adoption of its members’ products and services in Canada and abroad. The CHFCA has nearly 200 members across Canada and regional affiliates in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario. You can also follow CHFCA on Twitter at @PoweringNow or visit www.chfca.ca for more information.