(Ottawa) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is urged by several experts to appoint a new defense minister when he forms his next cabinet.
Voices are rising to say that former Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, re-elected in the constituency of Vancouver South, has lost credibility in handling the internal crisis within the Canadian Armed Forces caused by allegations of sexual misconduct by former senior military officials.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, ARCHIVES THE CANADIAN PRESS
Former Minister of Defense Harjit Sajjan
Some believe it is time to turn the reins of this ministry over to a woman.
Kim Campbell is the only woman to have served as Minister of National Defense in the country’s history. She served in this role in the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney for six months in 1993.
Among the names circulating for this position in Justin Trudeau’s next Liberal government are those of Carla Qualtrough, the former Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Inclusion. Persons with Disabilities and Anita Anand, the former Minister of Public Services and Procurement.