Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hugs Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc during a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA – As public safety minister, Marco Mendicino had a full plate of simmering issues and legislative initiatives.
His successor, Dominic LeBlanc, has plenty of leftovers to tuck into – from gun control and RCMP modernization to First Nations policing and tackling financial crimes.
As part of a major cabinet shuffle today, LeBlanc becomes minister of public safety, democratic institutions and intergovernmental affairs.
He has a head start on one key issue – addressing concerns about alleged Chinese meddling in Canadian affairs.
Last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked LeBlanc to consult experts and opposition parties about next steps, including a possible public inquiry into foreign interference.
The government is also mulling the creation of a foreign influence transparency registry to keep better tabs on people and organizations acting on behalf of other countries.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 26, 2023.
