Harper unveils his biggest cabinet ever government, political, minister, Stephen, country

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Harper unveils his biggest cabinet ever
Brings in several rookies
News1130 Staff May 18, 2011 11:28:08 AM
0 OTTAWA (NEWS1130) - Stephen Harper has unveiled the first cabinet of his majority government, bringing in several new faces and promoting veteran political pitbull John Baird to foreign affairs.

The prime minister has increased the size of the country's board of directors by one member, tying it with Brian Mulroney's cabinet as the biggest ever. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Defence Minister Peter MacKay are among the veterans keeping their posts.

Baird replaces Lawrence Cannon, who was defeated in the May 2nd election.

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Here in BC, James Moore is keeping his post as Heritage Minister. Abbotsford MP Ed Fast is now Minister of Trade.

Among the newcomers being sworn in at Rideau Hall are Peter Penashue -- the lone Conservative from Newfoundland and Labrador -- as intergovernmental affairs minister.

Maxime Bernier, one of only five Tories elected in Quebec, returns to cabinet in a junior role as minister of state for small business and tourism after a three-year exile.

The new federal cabinet in order of precedence after today's swearing-in ceremony:

Stephen Harper -- Prime Minister
Rob Nicholson -- Justice and Attorney General
Marjory LeBreton -- Leader of the Government in the Senate
Peter MacKay -- Defence
Vic Toews -- Public Safety
Rona Ambrose -- Public Works and Government Services and Minister for the Status of Women
Diane Finley -- Human Resources and Skills Development
Bev Oda -- International Co-operation
John Baird -- Foreign Affairs
Tony Clement -- President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario
Jim Flaherty -- Finance
Peter Van Loan -- Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Jason Kenney -- Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
Gerry Ritz -- Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
Christian Paradis -- Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)
James Moore -- Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Denis Lebel -- Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Leona Aglukkaq -- Health and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Keith Ashfield -- Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway
Peter Kent -- Environment
Lisa Raitt -- Labour
Gail Shea -- National Revenue
John Duncan -- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Steven Blaney -- Veterans Affairs
Edward Fast -- International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
Joe Oliver -- Natural Resources
Peter Penashue -- Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Julian Fantino -- Associate Minister of National Defence
Bernard Valcourt -- Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Gordon O'Connor -- Minister of State and Chief Government Whip
Maxime Bernier -- Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Diane Ablonczy -- Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas and Consular Affairs)
Lynne Yelich -- Minister of State (Western Economic Diversification)
Steven Fletcher -- Minister of State (Transport)
Gary Goodyear -- Minister of State (Science and Technology) (Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario)
Ted Menzies -- Minister of State (Finance)
Tim Uppal -- Minister of State (Democratic Reform)
Alice Wong -- Minister of State (Seniors)
Bal Gosal -- Minister of State (Sport)

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Prelude

Let see how well they can run in this 4 years.  This is their chance to prove something.