Sunday, February 1, 2026
ADVT 
National

Prime Minister's Office gives mandate letters to two ministers, months after shuffle

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Nov, 2023 11:14 AM
  • Prime Minister's Office gives mandate letters to two ministers, months after shuffle

The Prime Minister's Office has quietly published mandate letters for two ministers who were given new portfolios in the Liberal government's summer cabinet shuffle, but it won't be updating its prescriptions for jobs that already existed. 

The letters for the ministers in charge of the newly minted citizens' services and sport and physical activity portfolios were posted online earlier this week, and serve as a guide to what the prime minister wants them to accomplish.

Other ministers are not getting new mandate letters despite many of them having switched jobs, even though the last batch of instructions was given in 2021 during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The prime minister's press secretary, Mohammad Hussain, says the new letters build on earlier commitments, and ministers are expected to deliver on their priorities.

The letter for Citizens' Services Minister Terry Beech says he should seek to improve the way the government delivers services to Canadians, with an emphasis on digitizing services and preventing problems like last year's passport processing backlog.

Sport Minister Carla Qualtrough is being asked to promote physical activity as a fundamental element of health and well-being, and ensure that Canadians have equitable access to sports and physical activity. 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Climate change: Droughts, heavy rain turn Canada's pumpkin harvest spooky

Climate change: Droughts, heavy rain turn Canada's pumpkin harvest spooky
Severe weather across Canada caused by climate change has wreaked havoc with the pumpkin harvest this year. Nova Scotia pumpkin farmer Danny Dill says the spring planting season was arid because of wildfires, then heavy rains in the summer flooded his fields.

Climate change: Droughts, heavy rain turn Canada's pumpkin harvest spooky

Canada expands drug strategy to prevent more overdoses, provide additional services

Canada expands drug strategy to prevent more overdoses, provide additional services
The federal government is expanding its drug and substance use strategy to try to save more lives and provide more services to people disproportionately affected by Canada's overdose crisis. Health Canada says the drug landscape has changed with an increasingly toxic supply since the strategy was first developed in 2016. 

Canada expands drug strategy to prevent more overdoses, provide additional services

B.C. coalition seeks 'critical' crackdown on violent retail crime

B.C. coalition seeks 'critical' crackdown on violent retail crime
A group of more than 30 British Columbia retailers, trade associations and other organizations is calling for a co-ordinated government response for repeat offenders they say are behind a wave of theft, vandalism and violent crime. The Save Our Streets coalition says the need for immediate action is "critical" to meet threats to staff safety, rising security costs and the community impact.

B.C. coalition seeks 'critical' crackdown on violent retail crime

Health professionals, not police should care for intoxicated prisoners: B.C. watchdog

Health professionals, not police should care for intoxicated prisoners: B.C. watchdog
The head of British Columbia's police watchdog says caring for intoxicated prisoners is a health-care issue and shouldn't be a police responsibility.  A report released by Ronald J. MacDonald, the chief civilian director of the Independent Investigations Office, says holding those who are intoxicated in jail cells is outdated and offers no guarantee of their safety and health.

Health professionals, not police should care for intoxicated prisoners: B.C. watchdog

B.C. non-profits to receive $60 million from government to help with their work: Eby

B.C. non-profits to receive $60 million from government to help with their work: Eby
Certain non-profit organizations in British Columbia are getting $60 million from the government in grant funding to help them do their work. Premier David Eby says the help of non-profits is crucial and they benefit the people of B.C. with community supports, arts and cultural services and assistance to find affordable housing.

B.C. non-profits to receive $60 million from government to help with their work: Eby

B.C. raises pay $2 per hour for daycare workers at licensed facilities

B.C. raises pay $2 per hour for daycare workers at licensed facilities
B.C.'s Education and Child Care Ministry says the $2-per-hour raise and previous wage boosts totalling $4 an hour since 2018 will increase the hourly wage for early childhood educators to $28 per hour.  The ministry says early childhood educators who hold specialized certificates for infant, toddler and special needs education are also eligible for up to $3,000 extra per year.  

B.C. raises pay $2 per hour for daycare workers at licensed facilities