He was a Vancouver Police officer for 11 years before running for Parliament in the October 19 election. Vancouver-Granville MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, another first-time candidate elected to the new riding of Vancouver-Granville, is appointed Justice Minister. Wilson-Raybould is a former Crown prosecutor and served as B.C. regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations before entering politics.
Delta MP Carla Qualtrough is appointed minister for Sport and Persons with Disabilities. A lawyer, and specialist in disabilities who is visually impaired, Qualtrough won three medals in swimming at the 1988 and 1992 Paralympic Games.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark congratulated the new B.C. MPs, part of a contingent of 17 elected with the Liberal majority in Ottawa. Clark extended her congratulations to Trudeau and his 30 cabinet ministers.
“I am pleased to see British Columbia will be well represented at the cabinet table,” Clark said in a statement. “I know ministers Jody Wilson-Raybauld, Harjit Sajjan and Carla Qualtrough will be strong, passionate advocates not just for our province, but for our shared priorities, like renewing the Softwood LumberAgreement, LNG development, increasing support for international trade, investing in infrastructure and immigration, as well as fully including First Nations in our diverse economy.”
The B.C. premier said she looks forward to working with Trudeau and his ministers to build a more prosperous country.
Trudeau said his newly appointed, gender-balanced cabinet reflects the country’s diversity. The new Liberal prime minister pledged to “keep the promises” his party made during the election.