Prime Minister Mark Carney answers questions about Canada Post during a news conference in London. Image: CPAC live video
Prime Minister Mark Carney has brought former Liberal cabinet minister Marc Miller back into the fold, naming him the new minister of Canadian identity and culture, replacing Steven Guilbeault, who resigned from cabinet last week.
Miller will also take over Guilbeault’s role as minister responsible for official languages.
The changes were made official at a swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall on Monday afternoon — Miller’s first return to cabinet since Carney became leader.
Although he held several high-profile portfolios under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, including immigration and Crown-Indigenous relations, Miller was left out of cabinet following Carney’s appointment and again after the spring federal election.
Miller now inherits a ministry that was rebranded from Canadian Heritage and has a more flexible mandate under the Carney government, including a role in developing new legislation on online harms.
He takes over as the department faces ongoing pressure from the United States to dismantle parts of the Online Streaming Act and Online News Act.
The cabinet shuffle also includes adjustments to internal roles. Joël Lightbound will take on the position of Quebec lieutenant, a post previously held by Guilbeault. Meanwhile, Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin has been given expanded responsibilities as minister of environment, climate change and nature, adding oversight of Parks Canada.
Governor General Mary Simon presided over the ceremony, marking her first public appearance since a recent hospitalization.
Guilbeault stepped down last week after the federal government signed a major memorandum of understanding with Alberta on future energy development — a deal he argued undermined climate policies he had championed as minister.
Although leaving cabinet, he will remain a Liberal MP.
This marks the second major ministerial adjustment since September, when Carney reassigned portfolios following Chrystia Freeland’s departure from cabinet.
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