Justin Trudeau is making Chrystia Freeland, a former economics journalist with extensive contacts in the United States, his new foreign affairs minister. The old one, Stephane Dion, is quitting active politics after 21 years.
Dion made that announcement on his web site. Rumors before the cabinet shuffle had him taking a diplomatic post in Germany, but his statement did not include a hint as to a possible future job or assignment.
"I emerge full of energy…renewable!" writes Dion. "But politics is not the only way to serve one’s country. Fortunately!"
Dion came to Ottawa in 1996, when then-prime minister Jean Chretien brough him in along with another Quebecer, Pierre Pettigrew, to run in by-elections, and to bolster the visibility of Quebecers within the Liberal party, and the Canadian government.
As intergovernmental affairs minister, he was the chief author of the Clarity Act, which set out the ground rules for a potential third Quebec referendum on independence.
He also served as environment minister, and leader of the Liberal party from 2006 to 2008.
Ahmed Hussen, a Somali-born rookie MP first elected in 2015, was named immigration minister, replacing longtime MP John McCallum, who was named Canada's ambassador to China.
Hussen one of several new faces in cabinet that include Quebec MP Francois-Philippe Champagne, named international trade minister, and Karina Gould of Burlington, Ont., who takes Democratic Institutions from Maryam Monsef.
Patty Hajdu, a strong performer who shone as status of women minister, is taking over the labour portfolio from MaryAnn Mihychuk, who is being dumped from cabinet altogether.
Monsef — widely criticized for her handling of Trudeau's promise to reform Canada's voting system — is moving to replace Hajdu at Status of Women.
The shakeup is seen as a preparation for a Donald Trump presidency in the U.S.
-The Canadian Press contributed to this report.