Delta's Jill McKnight was one of two B.C. MPs sworn in as part of Prime Minister Mark Carney's new cabinet Tuesday morning.
Carney named 28 MPs to a cabinet "purpose-built for this hinge moment in Canada's history," and another 10 as secretaries of state tasked with supporting cabinet as part of a "return to traditional government."
"Canadians elected this new government with a strong mandate to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States and to build a stronger economy for all Canadians," Carney said in a news conference outside of Rideau Hall, following the swearing-in ceremony. "Canadians also sent a clear message that their cost of living must come down and that our communities must be safe."
Carney said his government will deliver its mandate for change "with urgency and determination, noting the swearing in of this cabinet is "amongst the fastest following an election," and the beginning of the new parliament on May 26 will be "one of the most rapid following an election in Canadian history."
"We are starting as we aim to go on," he said.
Carney said his new cabinet is smaller and more focused than those of previous governments and will operate "with everyone expected and empowered to show leadership, to bring new ideas, to have a clear focus and to take decisive actions to accomplish their work."
The 10 secretaries of state will lead on key priorities within their ministers' portfolios, he added.
"We will govern as a cabinet constructively and collaboratively, working with caucus and across parties in Parliament to deliver the change Canadians want and desire," Carney said.
"Our new government will be a strong and reliable partner to the provinces, the territories and to Indigenous peoples. We will reinforce bridges across labour, business and civil society, and together we will advance the nation-building investments that support the core mission of this government, which is to create the strongest economy in the G7, an economy that works for everyone."
McKnight, who has never held public office before, was elected to her first term as Delta’s member of Parliament on April 28 over Conservative Party rival Jessy Sahota.
On Tuesday, the former Delta Chamber of Commerce executive director was sworn in as Canada's new minister of veterans affairs and associate minister of national defence.
Joining her in cabinet is former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson, who was named minister of housing and infrastructure. Himself a first-term MP, Robertson was also sworn in as the minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada.
Three other B.C. MPs were named to cabinet-adjacent positions, including Surrey Centre MP Randeep Sarai, who will serve as secretary of state for international development.
Kelowna MP Stephen Fuhr was names secretary of state for defence procurement, while Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Stephanie McLean was chosen as secretary of state for seniors.
Speaking Tuesday, Carney said his government's priorities core priorities will be outlined on May 27 when King Charles attends Parliament to deliver the speech from the throne, noting the decisions made by this new Parliament "will be critical to Canada's future."
— with files from Lauren Collins
