Reporting by Phalen Tynes-MacDonald and Paul Park

Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled Canada’s newly appointed cabinet on Tuesday, May 13. 

Melanie Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Que.) traded positions with Anita Anand (Oakville, Ont.), taking over as Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. Anand has been appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position Joly had held since 2021.

Steven Guilbeault (Laurier–Sainte-Marie, Que.) will stay on as Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. He took the position during Carney’s brief first cabinet on March 14. The renamed portfolio was previously known as Canadian Heritage. The Quebec Liberal served as Heritage Minister from 2019 to 2021 and took over from former minister Pascale St-Onge (Brome-Mississquoi, Que.).

Stepping into cabinet is first-time MP Evan Solomon (Toronto Centre, Ont.), who is now Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. 

“Canada’s new ministry is built to deliver the change Canadians want and deserve,” said Carney in a written statement. “Everyone is expected and empowered to show leadership — to bring new ideas, a clear focus, and decisive action to their work.”

Creation of AI ministry ‘a very welcome move’

Digital researchers and advocacy groups expressed initial support for the newly created AI and digital innovation portfolio, applauding the separation of issues that have historically fallen under the purview of the industry minister. 

“We welcome the creation of this new minister,” said OpenMedia executive director Matt Hatfield, “it’s positive to create a bit more space between [artificial intelligence] and [Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada] ISED.”

Hatfield highlighted the government’s previous attempt at AI legislation, Bill C-27, and called on Solomon, if he does take the lead on returning to the issue, to conduct a “thorough public consultation on getting AI regulation right.”

“It’s a very welcome move, and I think it’s a strong signal AI policy and innovation policy [are at] the centre of the government’s priorities,” said Florian Martin-Bariteau, University of Ottawa law professor and director of the AI + Society Initiative, in an interview with The Wire Report.

Martin-Bariteau has been pushing for a “whole of government” approach to digital issues, and said he hopes that Solomon’s new role is a sign that Canada will see such an approach from its leadership. 

“But we need to wait for the mandate letters to know exactly what this portfolio will exactly be,” he said, raising questions about what Solomon’s focus will be compared to other ministers that might have overlapping responsibilities.

The last government saw some “weird things happening” between departments, said Martin-Bariteau.

He pointed to conflicts between past legislative proposals around managing online platforms’ algorithms and content moderation, noting that both the proposed Online Harms Act’s “digital safety commission,” as well as the AI regulations that would have been introduced through Bill C-27, intended to tackle the same problems.

“So, at the same time, you had two departments bringing forward two different approaches with two different regulators to tackle the same issue,” said Martin-Bariteau.

“We’re lacking cabinet coordination on digital files,” he continued, asking whether those bills, if reintroduced, would now fall under the AI minister’s portfolio or remain with other ministers.

Hatfield echoed Martin-Bariteau’s concerns.

“We hope that there will be a more whole-of-government approach to getting digital policy right, and that it won’t just be different ministries going on their own adventures,” he said, “because having just heritage or just justice lead particular files has led to a certain amount of confusion and incoherency in past policy.”

Telecom, broadcasting sectors welcome Joly, Guilbeault

The Canadian Telecommunications Association congratulated Joly on her appointment and pledged to work with her.

“A stronger and more productive Canadian economy depends on the expansion and enhancement of our world-class telecommunications networks,” it said in a statement to The Wire Report. “We look forward to working with Minister Joly to ensure Canada maintains a stable regulatory environment that fosters the necessary investment to meet Canadians’ increasing demand for advanced telecommunications that support the modernization of our economy.”

Those concerned with broadcasting were excited about Guilbeault’s return to the culture portfolio, including the Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB).

“The CAB is happy to see the new and refreshed ministry announced today by Prime Minister Carney,” Association president Kevin Desjardins wrote in an email to The Wire Report. “We look forward to the opportunity to work again with Minister Steven Guilbeault and his cabinet colleagues on ensuring the sustainability of the Canadian-owned and controlled broadcasting sector, and identifying ways to help keep journalists in professional newsrooms.”

The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) heralded the Quebec minister’s return.

“Minister Guilbeault’s strong voice at the cabinet table will be especially critical in the months ahead,” CEO Reynolds Mastin said in a statement. “It has never been more important for Canada’s government to stand up for our national culture and identity, particularly in the face of [U.S.] President Donald Trump’s unjustified trade threats and attacks on our sovereignty.”

The CMPA vowed to work with the minister on such topics as strengthening CBC/Radio–Canada, increasing funding to the Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada, and protecting cultural sovereignty when Canada enters trade negotiations with the United States.

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