The official opposition has unveiled its latest iteration of its shadow cabinet, dubbing the new crew as the party's "affordability team."
Among the notable changes include Wellington—Halton Hills MP Michael Chong, who will leave his job as foreign affairs critic and instead become the Tories' shadow minister for finance. Calgary East MP Jasraj Hallan will take on the role of shadow minister for national revenue, replacing the former finance critic. Simcoe North MP Adam Chambers is the party's new industry critic, succeeding Raquel Dancho, who will become the party's new shadow health minister.
Dancho stated, "Health care touches every Canadian family, whether it is a parent trying to find a family doctor, a senior waiting for surgery, a child needing urgent care or a patient hoping to access the latest treatments." She added, "With our talent, resources and standing as a G7 country, Canada should be a health-care success story. Instead, despite spending more than the OECD average on health care, Canadians are waiting longer for care and falling behind patients in many comparable countries when it comes to timely access and innovative treatments."
New faces in the shadow cabinet include North Island—Powell River MP Aaron Gunn, who replaces Michael Barrett as ethics and accountable government critic; Edmonton Northwest MP Billy Morin, who takes over Indigenous services from former MP Gary Vidal; and York Centre MP Roman Baber, who takes over as civil liberties critic from former Tory MP Marilyn Gladu.
Baber stated, "As part of our Conservative team, I am honoured to be appointed shadow minister for civil liberties to fight to protect the freedoms of all Canadians." He emphasized that his childhood spent under the tyrannical communist government of the Soviet Union gives him a unique insight on the necessity of civil liberties. "After 11 years of the Liberal government, we have witnessed an erosion in Canada's civil liberties. I vow to work tirelessly so that charter rights are preserved for all Canadians."
Other MPs no longer with shadow portfolios include former justice critic Larry Brock, who said in a statement he chose to step aside from his role for personal reasons. "I leave knowing that it is the right decision and that there are hard-working Conservative colleagues who can serve in shadow cabinet to continue the crucial work of holding the government to account on crime, protecting victims and ending corruption," he said. "I continue to put my full support behind Pierre Poilievre — he is the leader Canada needs and will make an amazing prime minister."
A complete list of the new shadow cabinet can be found online.
