Jim Carr, Canada's new Special Representative for the Prairies. (Supplied by The Canadian Press)

By David Opinko / with files from The Canadian Press

Carr to represent Prairies in Ottawa

Jim Carr named Canada’s “Special Representative” for the Prairies

Nov 20, 2019 | 12:43 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named the members of his new caucus Wednesday morning, November 20th.

Jim Carr, an MP in Winnipeg, will be given a new role that will have him work closely with Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

In October’s federal election, Alberta and Saskatchewan did not elect a single MP in the Liberal party. This naturally raised concerns among many in the prairie provinces about how much representation they would have in the federal government.

“The Government of Canada represents Canadians in every part of the country. That is why the prime minister has asked Jim Carr to serve as his special representative for the Prairies,” Trudeau’s office said in a news release announcing the move.

“Born and raised in Winnipeg, he will ensure that the people of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have a strong voice in Ottawa.”

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Carr formerly served as both natural resources minister and minister for international trade diversification, two portfolios exceptionally top of mind in the Prairies, given struggles in the energy sector and ongoing trade disputes affecting Canadian farmers and producers.

His appointment came as part of a broad cabinet shuffle for the Liberal government that also included naming Chrystia Freeland the deputy prime minister and intergovernmental affairs minister.

Freeland, though an MP for a Toronto riding, was born in Alberta.

She previously served as Trudeau’s foreign affairs minister and now will need to bring her diplomatic skills to bear on the home front at a time when provincial-federal relationships are exceptionally rocky due to issues including the federal carbon tax, immigration, and the Trans Mountain pipeline.

Other MPs from the West who nabbed a spot in cabinet include Winnipeg’s Dan Vandal, appointed minister of Northern Affairs. British Columbia’s Jonathan Wilkinson was shuffled to Environment from Fisheries, and Carla Qualtrough, also from B.C., was moved to Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion from her previous role as minister of public services, procurement and accessibility.