February 7, 2006

Canada Steers a New Course with Cabinet Picks

By Paul Jackson
Canadian Conservative Leader Stephen Harper was sworn in as the nation's 22nd  prime minister on Monday and immediately unveiled a cabinet line—up that is both 25% smaller than ousted Liberal prime minister Paul Martin's cabinet and gave a tilt in foreign affairs, defense and national security sure to make Washington happier with Ottawa than it has been in years. Foreign Affairs Canada's new foreign affairs minister is Peter MacKay, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Nova Scotia, and the son of a top—ranking cabinet minister, Elmer MacKay, in Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's pro—American government of 1984—93. It was Mulroney and his cabinet who trailblazed the free trade agreement with President Ronald Reagan's government, and which now allows more than 80% of Canada's world exports to enter the United States. The younger MacKay — age 41 — is a rugby—playing, former prosecutor, with four terms in the Canadian House of Commons behind...(Read Full Article)