Canada basked in international spotlight when new Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau officially announced his new Cabinet. In Canada, the Cabinet is a group of ministers who hold executive power, appointed by the PM. For the first time in history, there is an equal number of men and women holding positions. The ethnically diverse ministers include 15 men and 15 women - it is a Cabinet that ‘looks like Canada.’ Most members of the team are under 50, a distinct change from the past. His appointments ultimately represent a commitment to reflect Canada’s diversity in the political spectrum. Justin Trudeau at 43 is the second-youngest Prime Minister in Canadian history and the youngest son of Pierre Trudeau, the most celebrated PM in Canadian history. His father introduced the “Multiculturalism Policy” in 1971, which recognized Canada as a country of two official languages - English and French. Also, it provided the framework allowing a multitude of cultures to peacefully coexist. Justin Trudeau’s political vision reflected his father’s legacy. He said: “It’s important to be here before you today to present to Canada a cabinet that looks like Canada.” In the past, most female ministers in Canada were given “soft portfolios” like healthcare, education, and human rights. A major trend is women increasingly holding top profile portfolios in non-traditional areas for women in government, such as national security and defense, finance, revenue, and foreign relations. Many of the incoming female ministers have been assigned major roles, including former journalist Chrystia Freeland – now Minister of International Trade. Maryam Monsef, a former Afghanistan refugee, will direct the democratic reform portfolio. Trudeau’s cabinet also includes two aboriginal members of parliament and three Sikh politicians. Trudeau’s acceptance speech was heartwarming for many Canadians who were seeking greater political diversity. “You are the inspiration for our efforts and you are the reason why we worked so hard to be here tonight and you will be at the heart of this new government … We know in our bones that Canada was built by people from all corners of the world who worship every faith, who belong to every culture, who speak every language. We believe in our hearts that this country’s unique diversity is a blessing.” Asked to explain his politically bold appointments, Trudeau had a simple answer: “Because it’s 2015.” This article was written by Joanne Chun. Please send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Jared Grove (Phobophile) on Wiki Commons