OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tapped Toronto MP Chrystia Freeland to serve as deputy prime minister and minister of intergovernmental affairs at a time when national unity is a growing preoccupation in a country fraught with post-election regional tensions.It’s a dramatic step for the Alberta-born Freeland, a former journalist with a global Rolodex who became a star rookie of the last government and shone in foreign affairs. She is now charged with one of the top domestic roles in the new minority Parliament.Trudeau’s new cabinet, along with changes to the way the most powerful government cabinet committees will work, were revealed Wednesday afternoon as the ministers were sworn in one-by-one during a Rideau Hall ceremony with Governor General Julie Payette.Trudeau chose to keep some of his high-profile players in key jobs. Bill Morneau remains finance minister, David Lametti remains in justice, Harjit Sajjan stays at defence and Marc Garneau at transport.But there were many more changes, including former Toronto police chief Bill Blair being named to public safety minister, and many newcomers who take on cabinet roles.Those include Anita Anand, a law professor at the University of Toronto who defeated the Conservative incumbent in Oakville. She was vaulted into a front line services portfolio at public services and procurement, while her predecessor in that job, Carla Qualtrough, becomes minister of employment, workforce development and disability inclusion.Lawyer Marco Mendocino, MP for Eglinton-Lawrence, enters cabinet to become minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, while Ahmed Hussen moves to take over the department of families, children and social development.In all, 11 MPs from the Greater Toronto Area have seats at the cabinet table.Quebecers also get a boost in this revamped Trudeau team.François-Philippe Champagne, who was an international trade lawyer, takes over at foreign affairs.The prime minister name ...
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