London MP Arielle Kayabaga appointed House leader in Mark Carney's cabinet

London West Liberal MP Arielle Kayabaga was given a position in Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet during a swearing-in ceremony in Ottawa, early Friday afternoon.

Kayabaga, a former downtown London city councillor, and a federal politician since 2021, will fill the role of government House leader and minister of democratic institutions.

Kayabaga told CBC News she'll advocate for London during her time in the position.

"As a Londoner, as someone who grew up in London, as someone who has represented London at both municipal and federal tables, I think I'd bring the voices of Londoners to cabinet," Kayabaga said. "When important decisions are being made, [ensuring] London is part of that, and not just London, but the southwestern Ontario region."

Eighteen Trudeau government cabinet ministers are not returning to cabinet, either because they have decided not to run in the next election or because Carney replaced them with someone else as he put together a much smaller cabinet.

Kayabaga's new position was last held by Karina Gould, who ran for the Liberal leadership, and is not returning to cabinet. 

Kayabaga said her advocacy for southwestern Ontario will tap into the fact that the region is an important corridor for commerce and manufacturing, all while Canada is in the midst of a trade war with the United States.

She also said her experience in both municipal and federal politics will be an asset. She said she's not only worked through crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, but also has experience working in close quarters with political opponents.

When asked whether she expected to hold on to her new portfolio should the Liberals win the next election, Kayabaga said it's not her choice.

"We serve at the pleasure of the prime minister and if the prime minister taps me again, I will be more than happy to do so."

As House leader, Kayabaga will be responsible for coordinating the party's day-to-day business and managing the legislative agenda, although it's unlikely she'll have much time to fulfil those duties before a federal election is called by Carney.

As for her position as minister of democratic institutions, Western University political science professor Laura Stephenson says "it doesn't have a specific set of policies that one might identify."

"The title is a general charge that has been used in a number of different ways," Stephenson said.

Kayabaga did not give specific examples of what her duties in the role would consist of, but said "securing our democracy is very important," and made mentions of keeping foreign interference at bay, and the importance of secure and fair elections.