High River, AB – The Hon. Rona Ambrose, Leader of the Official Opposition and Interim Leader of the Conservative Party, announced (Friday) the Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet. With the announcement, John Barlow was named deputy critic for Employment, Workforce and Labour.
“I believe the team we have assembled will be the strongest Official Opposition this country has ever seen,” said Ms. Ambrose. “I am proud to lead this team of talented and respected individuals from across Canada. Together, we will ask the Government the tough questions and hold them to account.”
Over 5.6 million Canadians voted for the Conservative Party on October 19, leading to one of the strongest oppositions to a majority government in Canadian history. The Conservatives will form a strong opposition and ensure hard-working Canadians and their families are protected and the country’s finances kept in check.
“I was happy to receive the call from Ms. Ambrose asking if I would serve in the Shadow Cabinet for the Official Opposition as Deputy Critic for Employment, Workforce and Labour. I look forward to my new role and being an effective member of such a dynamic team,” said John Barlow. “With the economic downturn it is critical we have strong advocates for Alberta’s resource sector and the small businesses, communities and employees who rely on those industries. I look forward to being that voice.”
For a complete listing of the newly appointed shadow cabinet, please follow this link (or see the list below):
http://www.conservative.ca/team/#shadowcabinet
| Shadow Cabinet Member | Portfolio |
| Hon. Rona Ambrose (Sturgeon River–Parkland) | Leader of the Official Opposition and Status of Women |
| Hon. Denis Lebel (Lac-Saint-Jean) | Deputy Leader and Intergovernmental Affairs |
| Ziad Aboultaif (Edmonton Manning) | National Revenue |
| Scott Armstrong | Atlantic Issues and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency |
| Hon. Candice Bergen (Portage–Lisgar) | Natural Resources |
| Hon. Maxime Bernier (Beauce) | Innovation, Science and Economic Development |
| James Bezan (Selkirk–Interlake–Eastman) | National Defence |
| Hon. Steven Blaney (Bellechasse–Les Etchemins–Lévis) | Public Services and Procurement |
| Kelly Block (Carleton Trail–Eagle Creek) | Transport |
| Alupa Clarke (Beauport–Limoilou) | Veterans Affairs |
| Hon. Tony Clement (Parry Sound–Muskoka) | Foreign Affairs |
| Gérard Deltell (Louis-Saint-Laurent) | Employment, Workforce and Labour |
| Hon. Ed Fast (Abbotsford) | Environment and Climate Change |
| Marilyn Gladu (Sarnia–Lambton) | Science |
| Hon. K. Kellie Leitch (Simcoe–Grey) | Health |
| Cathy McLeod (Kamloops–Thompson–Cariboo) | Indigenous Affairs |
| Hon. Rob Nicholson (Niagara Falls) | Justice |
| Hon. Deepak Obhrai (Calgary Forest Lawn) | International Development |
| Hon. Erin O’Toole (Durham) | Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness |
| Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg–Haute-Saint-Charles) | National Defence (Associate) |
| Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Carleton) | Treasury Board and the National Capital Commission |
| Hon. Lisa Raitt (Milton) | Finance |
| Scott Reid (Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston) | Democratic Institutions |
| Hon. Michelle Rempel (Calgary Nose Hill) | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship |
| Hon. Gerry Ritz (Battlefords–Lloydminster) | International Trade |
| Mark Strahl (Chilliwack–Hope) | Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard |
| Hon. Peter Van Loan (York–Simcoe) | Canadian Heritage and National Historic Sites |
| Karen Vecchio (Elgin–Middlesex–London) | Families, Children and Social Development |
| Mark Warawa (Langley–Aldergrove) | Seniors |
| Chris Warkentin (Grande Prairie–Mackenzie) | Agriculture and Agri-Food |
| Dianne Watts (South Surrey–White Rock) | Infrastructure and Communities |
| Hon. Alice Wong (Richmond Centre) | Small Business |
| Other Critic | Critic Portfolio |
| Dan Albas (Central Okanagan–Similkameen–Nicola) | Interprovincial Trade |
| David Anderson (Cypress Hills–Grasslands) | Human Rights and Religious Freedom |
| Hon. Sylvie Boucher (Beauport–Côte-de-Beaupré–île d’Orléans–Charlevoix) | La Francophonie |
| John Brassard (Barrie–Innisfil) | Urban Affairs |
| Todd Doherty (Cariboo–Prince George) | Asia-Pacific Gateway |
| Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew–Nipissing–Pembroke) | Regional Development for Northern Ontario |
| Bernard Généreux (Montmagny–L’Islet–Kamouraska–Rivière-du-Loup) | Official Languages |
| Joël Godin (Portneuf–Jacques-Cartier) | Canadian Economic Development for Quebec Regions |
| Rachael Harder (Lethbridge) | Youth and Persons with Disabilities |
| Matt Jeneroux (Edmonton Riverbend) | Western Economic Diversification |
| Robert Kitchen (Souris–Moose Mountain) | Sport |
| Hon. Mike Lake (Edmonton–Wetaskiwin) | Maternal, Newborn and Child Health |
| Alexander Nuttall (Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte) | Federal Development for Southern Ontario |
| Blake Richards (Banff–Airdrie) | Tourism |
| Bev Shipley (Lambton–Kent–Middlesex) | Rural Affairs |
| Robert Sopuck (Dauphin–Swan River–Neepawa) | Wildlife Conservation and Parks Canada |
| Brad Trost (Saskatoon–University) | Canada/US Relations |
| David Yurdiga (Fort McMurray–Cold Lake) | Northern Affairs |
| Deputy Critic | Deputy Critic Portfolio |
| Dean Allison (Niagara West) | International Development |
| Mel Arnold (North Okanagan–Shuswap) | Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard |
| John Barlow (Foothills) | Employment, Workforce and Labour |
| Luc Berthold (Mégantic–L’Érable) | Infrastructure and Communities |
| Colin Carrie (Oshawa) | Health |
| Hon. Michael Chong (Wellington–Halton Hills) | Environment and Climate Change |
| Michael Cooper (St. Albert–Edmonton) | Justice |
| Kerry Diotte (Edmonton Griesbach) | Urban Affairs |
| Todd Doherty (Cariboo–Prince George) | Indigenous Affairs |
| Hon. Diane Finley (Haldimand–Norfolk) | Innovation, Science and Economic Development |
| Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park–Fort Saskatchewan) | Human Rights and Religious Freedom |
| Jacques Gourde (Lévis–Lotbinière) | Agriculture and Agri-Food |
| Pat Kelly (Calgary Rocky Ridge) | Treasury Board |
| Hon. Peter Kent (Thornhill) | Foreign Affairs |
| Ben Lobb (Huron–Bruce) | Transport |
| Kelly McCauley (Edmonton West) | Public Services and Procurement |
| Phil McColeman (Brantford–Brant) | Finance |
| Alain Rayes (Richmond–Arthabaska) | Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness |
| Blake Richards (Banff–Airdrie) | Democratic Institutions |
| Bob Saroya (Markham–Unionville) | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship |
| Shannon Stubbs (Lakeland) | Natural Resources |
| Dave Van Kesteren (Chatham–Kent–Leamington) | International Trade |
| Arnold Viersen (Peace River–Westlock) | Rural Affairs |
| Cathay Wagantall (Yorkton–Melville) | Veterans Affairs |
| Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon–Grasswood) | Canadian Heritage and National Historic Sites |
| Bob Zimmer (Prince George–Peace River–Northern Rockies) | Families, Children and Social Development |
| House Leadership Team | Responsibility |
| Hon. Andrew Scheer (Regina–Qu’Appelle) | Opposition House Leader |
| Gordon Brown (Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes) | Chief Opposition Whip |
| Scott Reid (Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston) | Deputy Opposition House Leader |
| Dave MacKenzie (Oxford) | Deputy Opposition Whip |
| David Anderson (Cypress Hills–Grasslands) | Question Period Coordinator |
| Name | Responsibility |
| Hon. Jason Kenney (Calgary–Midnapore) | Chair, Shadow Cabinet Committee on Strategic Operations |
| Hon. Diane Finley (Haldimand–Norfolk) | Caucus-Party Liaison |