Yesterday, the new government was sworn in and Prime Minister Harper’s cabinet was announced. Among those named were ex-Liberal cabinet member David Emerson as Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, the unelected Michael Fortier as Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and former Heritage critic Bev Oda as Minister of Heritage and Minister on the Status of Women. Long seen as the frontrunner for the position, Oda, a former broadcasting exec and the first Japanese-Canadian elected to the House of Commons, is one of only six women named to the 27-member cabinet, the CBC reported yesterday.

Related links:
Click here for a CBC profile on Bev Oda
Click here for a breakdown of the new cabinet, also courtesy of the CBC