Thornhill
November 01, 2008 09:57 PM
Keely Grasser
Newly-elected Thornhill MP Peter Kent has been appointed to cabinet.
The first-time member was named to the minister of state of foreign affairs (Americas) post by Prime Minister Stephen Harper Thursday morning.
This comes after much speculation that Mr. Kent would be included in the cabinet, as one of only a handful of Conservative MPs in the 905.
When announcing his new team, Mr. Harper said that while the fundamentals of Canada’s economy remain stronger, more stable and more durable than those of many nations, the country isn’t immune to what is happening outside of its borders.
Thus, he said his government’s new mandate will ensure Canada’s businesses and families have the security they need to weather the economic storm.
Because of the strong focus on the economy, Harper said he chose to keep key economic portfolios in the same hands, including keeping Whitby-Oshawa MP Jim Flaherty as minister of finance.
However, Mr. Harper also welcomed several first-time MPs, he said, who have with a range of experience.
Before his political career, Mr. Kent spent four decades as a writer, reporter, producer, anchor and senior executive in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. Mr. Kent was the anchor of Global television’s First National.
Through his reporting career, he’s covered many historical international events, including the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Mr. Kent’s new junior post was last held by Simcoe-Grey MP Helena Guergis.