Justin Trudeau beamed as he explained why he felt the need to put together Canada’s first cabinet with an equal number of male and female members.
“It’s an incredible pleasure for me to be before you today … to present a cabinet that looks like Canada,” Trudeau said on Wednesday afternoon in his first statement as Canada’s 23rd prime minister.
He had a quick answer and a smile when asked why he felt the need for the gender balance in his 30-member cabinet.
“Because it’s 2015,” he told reporters gathered outside Rideau Hall. “Canadians elected extraordinary members of Parliament… I’m glad to be able to highlight a few of them in the cabinet today.”
He promised that his government would be one based on trust and teamwork that delivered “evidence-based policy.”
“Government by cabinet is back,” he said.
Trudeau said he welcomed media asking serious questions and respected the desire for open data and access to information.
“We’re forming a government that places trust at the very centre of its actions,” he said.
He said he trusts his cabinet will help him fulfill a pledge to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees and also said he will push for human rights in upcoming talks in China.
That’s important “not just for Canadians but for everyone in this planet,” he said.
“Canada is going to be a strong and positive actor on the world stage,” he said.
A couple hours earlier, a confident and relaxed-looking Trudeau was sworn in at Rideau Hall as Canada’s prime minister with his wife, children and mother looking on.
A standing ovation followed the pledge by Trudeau to be a “faithful and true servant” of the Queen in Canada in the blue-walled grand hall, with its high ceilings, gold curtains and massive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Two 11-year-old Inuit throat singers performed immediately after Trudeau was sworn into office.
Trudeau, 43, made history by becoming the first child of a former Canadian prime minister to assume the post. His late father, Pierre Trudeau, last held the office in June 1984.
In another historic move, he chose an equal number of men and women – 15 of each – to serve with him in cabinet. Trudeau himself was sworn in as minister of intergovernmental affairs and youth.
The new prime minister was almost literally at home as he assumed Canada’s top post. He is currently living in a secure Georgian revival-style cottage behind Rideau Hall, where the swearing-in ceremonies are held.
Trudeau grew up at the official prime minister’s residence at 24 Sussex Dr. in Ottawa. That building is now slated to undergo renovations to remove lead pipes and outdated wiring, among other things.
He and his incoming cabinet arrived at Rideau Hall this morning after a walk on which they were greeted and cheered by well-wishers.
First Nations drummers led them into the ballroom, where they swore their oaths of allegiance.
Each of the new government ministers swore three oaths: The first of allegiance; the second for membership in the Privy Council (which includes a vow to guard official secrets); and the third an oath of office.
In their oaths of office, they each said: “I, (name), do solemnly and sincerely promise and swear/declare that I will truly and faithfully, and to the best of my skill and knowledge, execute the powers and trusts reposed in me as (cabinet title).”
Individuals had the choice of affirming their oaths, which allowed them to replace the word “swear” with the word “declare” and to omit the expression “So help me God.”
Each new cabinet minister was given a warm greeting from Trudeau and many were hugged and patted on the back or arms.
A particularly strong hug was given to Kent Hehr, the incoming veteran’s affairs minister and associate national defense minister. Hehr, a Calgary lawyer, was paralyzed with a spinal-cord injury after he was hit in a drive-by shooting in 1991.
A military orchestra played as dignitaries including former prime ministers Jean Chretien and John Turner – who sat chatting side-by-side – and former governors general Adrienne Clarkson and Michaelle Jean exchanged pleasantries before the ceremony began.
Gov. Gen. David Johnston presided over the ceremonies from a comfortable padded chair under a massive crystal chandelier. Trudeau sat alongside him in a chair with less padding.
The audience was a sea of dark suits punctuated by flashes of red, as dignitaries wore poppies to commemorate the upcoming Remembrance Day.
Supreme Court justices and Liberal staffers were among those in attendance.
Margaret Trudeau beamed as she divided her time between dignitaries and grandchildren before the ceremony began.
After administering the oath of office, Johnston signed a declaration that officially made Trudeau the country’s new prime minister at about 10:50 a.m.
The walk to Rideau Hall by Trudeau and his incoming cabinet began on a bright fall morning just minutes after Stephen Harper officially resigned as prime minister.
Harper’s resignation had been confirmed earlier this morning by a spokesperson for the Governor General.
The Conservative leader held power since 2006.
As promised, Trudeau unveiled a cabinet in which he is joined by 30 MPs, half of them men and half women.
He had a choice of 183 successful Liberal candidates after winning a majority in last month’s federal election.
Later this month, he will head off to major international meetings, including the G20 leaders summit in Turkey, APEC in the Philippines, the Commonwealth Summit in Malta and a climate summit in Paris.
