David Emerson has been officially shifted to his new role as Canada's foreign affairs minister following the removal of Maxime Bernier, who was forced to resign over a recent scandal.
The appointment is part of a cabinet mini-shuffle by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Several others were either sworn into cabinet for the first time or shuffled to new portfolios during a Wednesday morning ceremony at Ottawa's Rideau Hall.
Sen. Michael Fortier was moved to the International Trade post to replace Emerson and junior minister Christian Paradis was promoted to take over the Public Works portfolio from Fortier.
The appointment of Paradis, a lawyer from Thetford Mines, Que., gives the Conservatives a new star in the province and serves to fill the void of Quebecers in the government's senior ranks following Bernier's departure.
Paradis' new responsibilities come in addition to his role as secretary of state for agriculture, a job he is keeping.
James Moore, a parliamentary secretary from B.C. who is considered a rising star in the Conservative party, was promoted to cabinet to take on the role of secretary of state for official languages, the Asia-Pacific gateway and the Vancouver Olympics.
Harper didn't speak formally to the media, but as he was leaving Rideau Hall he said: "We're on track, and we're going to stay on track."
Moore, Fortier and Paradis followed the prime minister's lead and said little to the media as they left Rideau Hall.
Bernier resigned from the Foreign Affairs post after it was revealed that he had left classified documents at the home of Julie Couillard, his former girlfriend. It had been revealed earlier that Couillard had personal ties to people involved in Quebec biker gangs.
The analysis
Emerson was considered by many to be a shoo-in for the post. A Department of Foreign Affairs news release appeared to confirm the appointment on Tuesday, saying the B.C. minister would be attending a G8 meeting in Japan this week. As a result, he was not in Ottawa for the ceremony.
Emerson, a reliable and experienced minister, is considered a safe choice.
"It's a very good appointment. Mr. Emerson is one of the best cabinet ministers Mr. Harper has," said CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife.
"He chairs many cabinet committees, including the special committee on Afghanistan, the foreign affairs and defence committee of cabinet, and he's going to bring some mature leadership to foreign affairs."
One of Emerson's main challenges in his file will be Canada's relationship with China. Former Liberal MP John Manley noted on 麻豆影视net that Harper's relationship with the country has been cooler than the previous Liberal government over China's human rights record.
As a former minister of International Trade, Emerson should be quite familiar with China's importance as a trade partner, Manley said.
Another challenge for Emerson and the Conservative Party will be getting him re-elected should be choose to run in the next election. First elected as a Liberal MP in 2004 in a Vancouver riding, he crossed the floor to join the Conservatives in 2006.
A lone protester reminded people of the switch at Rideau Hall on Wednesday.
"He should have run in a byelection. He crossed the floor, he has no creditability," the protester told reporters.
Conservative strategist Geoff Norquay told 麻豆影视net that Quebecers "will be impressed" with Paradis once they get to know the low-key MP.
Manley said Paradis has an opportunity to replace Bernier as the key Harper MP in Quebec.
"He's got to be the face of the Conservative government in rural, francophone Quebec," CTV's Mike Duffy said.
B.C. Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh said that Moore's promotion was in large part due to his handling of the Chuck Cadman scandal for the Conservatives.
Dosanjh also criticized Harper's appointment of Fortier, an unelected senator, to cabinet because they are not forced to answer questions in the House of Commons.
The opposition points to Fortier's appointment as a sign that Harper has a weak bench to choose ministers from.
Critics also noted that no women were appointed to the cabinet. There are eight women in Harper's cabinet but most of them have junior positions and none are ministers of any of the major portfolios.
