Prime Minister announces changes to the parliamentary secretary team

Press Release

February 21, 2025

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced changes to the parliamentary secretary team.

In their new roles, the parliamentary secretaries will support their respective cabinet ministers to make progress on the priorities that matter most to Canadians. They will engage directly with Canadians on key initiatives and represent the government at home and abroad. Their appointments are effective immediately.

The changes to the parliamentary secretary team are as follows:

Vance Badawey becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
Jaime Battiste becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency
Chris Bittle becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Mike Kelloway becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Irek Kusmierczyk becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Seniors
Bryan May becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Yasir Naqvi becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
Taleeb Noormohamed becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs (Canada-U.S.)
Jennifer O’Connell becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety (Cybersecurity)
Marc G. Serré becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Terry Sheehan becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Ryan Turnbull becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
Adam van Koeverden becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada

The Prime Minister also welcomed the following new members to the parliamentary secretary team:

Kody Blois becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Rural Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Julie Dzerowicz becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Consular Affairs and Latin America)
Arielle Kayabaga becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business
Viviane Lapointe becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety
Tim Louis becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage
Francesco Sorbara becomes Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs

These new parliamentary secretaries will work to deliver real, positive change for Canadians. They join the following parliamentary secretaries remaining in their portfolio:

Paul Chiang, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Peter Fragiskatos, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Lisa Hepfner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
Anthony Housefather, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board
Iqra Khalid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue
Annie Koutrakis, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Kevin Lamoureux, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Stéphane Lauzon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizens’ Services
James Maloney, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Sherry Romanado, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness
Randeep Sarai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Maninder Sidhu, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
Charles Sousa, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement
Anita Vandenbeld, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development
Sameer Zuberi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities

Quote

“Our government is laser-focused on the issues that matter most to you and your family. With these additions to our strong team, we will create and protect Canadian jobs, build more homes, reduce emissions, make life cost less, and defend Canadian interests.”
The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

Parliamentary secretaries are chosen by the Prime Minister to assist ministers.
The responsibilities of parliamentary secretaries generally fall into two broad categories: House of Commons business and department-related duties.
Parliamentary secretaries are not members of Cabinet and do not play a formal role in the Cabinet decision-making process. They support their ministers, but overall responsibility and accountability remains with the minister.

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