OTTAWA — Canada’s former treasury board president has been named chief government whip.
In a statement issued Monday by the Prime Minister’s Office, Ottawa-Vanier MP Mona Fortier has been named chief government whip, replacing newly minted cabinet minister Ruby Sahota in the job.
Sahota, who represents the Liberals in the riding of Brampton North, was named minister of Democratic Institutions and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario in last week’s high-profile cabinet shuffle.
Fortier, who was elected in 2017, previously served as president of the treasury board and minister of Middle Class Prosperity.
Party whips are largely used to keep members of the caucus in line, as well as coordinating votes in the House of Commons.
In a statement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described Fortier as an experienced leader with a keen understanding of issues.
Last week’s sudden resignation of former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, as well as a number of cabinet ministers who’ve either resigned or announced intentions of not seeking another term, prompted the Trudeau Liberals to shuffle their cabinet on Friday.
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