Former Hatter earns spot in Carney’s cabinet

By Medicine Hat News on May 14, 2025.

A junior member of the new federal cabinet has ties to Medicine Hat.

Eleanor Olszewski is the new minister of emergency preparedness and responsible western economic development after a swearing-in ceremony in Ottawa on Tuesday.

The recently elected MP for Edmonton-Centre grew up in Medicine Hat’s Kensington neighbourhood and attended Monsignor McCoy High School before earning degrees in pharmacy and law from the University of Alberta in the 1980s.

More recently she served as the federal party’s provincial association board along with Medicine Hat’s Stan Sakamoto.

“I think it’s great to have someone from Western Canada in cabinet, having our views at the table,” said Sakamoto. “I think she’s a great fit, and Eleanor will be great for the region and Western Canada.”

Olszewski told the News in a 2019 interview that her family moved to Medicine Hat when she was young after her father Stan was transferred by Canadian Pacific Railway. Her mother Helen taught near their family home at St. Mary’s School.

On Tuesday, she joined federal cabinet as the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, as well as the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada. That agency was created years ago from Western Economic Development when its mandate for British Columbia was put in a stand-alone agency.

The 2025 election was Olszewski’s fourth attempt to win a seat in the Alberta capital, having previously run in the riding of Edmonton-Strathcona.

Prior to the April 28 election, Olszewski assumed the candidacy for Edmonton-Centre, where incumbent candidate Randy Boissenault was retiring. Edmonton-Strathcona was held by New Democrat incumbent Heather McPherson.

Several other Western Canadian members of the Liberal caucus were named as secretaries of state with special portfolios.

Former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson is Minister of Housing and responsible for Pacific Economic Development.

Buckley Belanger, elected in the Saskatchewan riding of DesnethÃ©-Missinippi-Churchill River, will focus on rural development.

Others are Stephen Fuhr, MP for Kelowna, Defence Procurement, and former Alberta MLA Stephanie McLean (seniors), who won a federal seat on Vancouver Island last month.

Manitoba MP Rebecca Chartrand is a minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs, and responsible for the Northern Economic Development.