Carney cabinet picks draw quick praise and scorn in Alberta
CBC
Edmonton Centre Liberal MP Eleanor Olszewski has been appointed to federal cabinet, one of several rookie members announced today as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's new post-election cabinet.
Olszewski, a lawyer, business owner and former army reservist, will be the new minister of emergency management and community resilience. She will also be the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada.
Though Alberta went nearly all blue on election night, Olszewski was one of two Liberals sent to Ottawa, along with Calgary Confederation MP Corey Hogan. Political observers had suggested Carney could attempt to bridge divides with Alberta by appointing an Alberta MP to cabinet.
The new cabinet includes 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state.
Secretaries of state aren't members of cabinet, and have in the past been referred to as junior ministers.
The new secretaries of state include former Saskatchewan NDP cabinet minister Buckley Belanger as the secretary of state for rural development, the only Liberal MP elected in that province. Stephanie McLean, a former Alberta NDP cabinet minister who won for the Liberals on Vancouver Island, will be the secretary of state for seniors.
While Olszewski's appointment marks an effort to bring Alberta into the federal cabinet, some mixed reaction emerged in the province over picks for other key portfolios.
Several provincial leaders, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, have called for a political "reset" in how Ottawa engages with the West.
Rob Anderson, Smith's chief of staff, quickly took to social media to raise concerns with Carney's pick to head up the government's environment portfolio.
"Sit down for this one Alberta," Anderson wrote on X.
Anderson pointed to the website of new Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin. On her website, she writes that she supports "putting a price on carbon pollution, has taken a strong stance against oilsands expansion, and has promoted the critical need for a transition from fossil fuels to a low-carbon economy."
"Fire … meet gas," Anderson wrote.
Later in the day, Smith released a statement, writing that she was "very concerned" about Dabrusin's appointment.
"We are being forced to contend with yet another 'keep it in the ground' environment minister. This is a step in the wrong direction," Smith wrote.
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