Jason Kenney is the new Defence Minister (Feb 2015)

[Spencer100]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-shuffles-cabinet-names-new-foreign-and-defence-ministers/article22857136/

Jason Kenney is the new Defence Minister. 

This maybe a good thing.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

Explain.

 

[Spencer100]

Jason Kenny has been an effective minister in his other roles.  Very good at multicultural out reach. 

I also think he understands the cultural and religious aspects of the war we are currently fighting i.e. ISIL.

I also think he is on good terms with the PM. (I have no examples) 

Just my thoughts, I guess time will tell.

 

[Remius]

I have to agree.  He has been very effective and he's a good communicator. 

Likely Minister Nicholson was shuffled to Foreign Affairs because he likely has plenty of background on the whole Ukraine, Iraq/Syria issues among others.  Probably the best man on the PM's team to go there.

Pierre Polievre getting the NCC portfolio sort of makes sense I guess.  Not a fan of him though.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Interesting mix, indeed, having Kenney as both defence and multi-cult minister.

Glass-half-full explanation:  Cutting the size of cabinet.

Glass-half-empty explanation:  Don't need a full-time minister if an election's coming earlier than many think.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

I don't think its either of your explanations Milnews.

More likely, the PM knows that he is 9 months away from an election and he doesn't want to elevate a inexperienced backbencher with the potential for screwup he could not recover from in such a short time, so he is sticking with his most trusted hands to p avoid mistakes.

 

[The Bread Guy]

I don't think its either of your explanations Milnews.

More likely, the PM knows that he is 9 months away from an election and he doesn't want to elevate a inexperienced backbencher with the potential for screwup he could not recover from in such a short time, so he is sticking with his most trusted hands to p avoid mistakes.

Could be that, too -- to me, it reduces the optics of defence being a robust portfolio when it can be managed as one of two hats.

And if the multi-cult portfolio can be managed by double-hatting, does it have to be a stand-alone portfolio?

 

[KerryBlue]

I was reading around, and maybe its a conspiracy theory but some people are suggesting that the publication of the CSOR contact incidents were a test and moving Kenney to Defense minister is a sign that the Iraq mission maybe expanding. Anyone have any thoughts on this theory?

 

[Happy Guy]

Could be that, too -- to me, it reduces the optics of defence being a robust portfolio when it can be managed as one of two hats.

And if the multi-cult portfolio can be managed by double-hatting, does it have to be a stand-alone portfolio?

Mr. Kenney is probably just a caretaker meaning nothing of significant will be done while he is MND - the election is just around the corner.  Most procurement projects (value over $1 million) will most likely stop until he is fully briefed and comfortable and this will take months.  Again within DND nothing significant will be staffed until after the election.  This probably means that the ship building and search & rescue aircraft are on hold again.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Mr. Kenney is probably just a caretaker meaning nothing of significant will be done while he is MND - the election is just around the corner.  Most procurement projects (value over $1 million) will most likely stop until he is fully briefed and comfortable and this will take months.  Again within DND nothing significant will be staffed until after the election.  This probably means that the ship building and search & rescue aircraft are on hold again.

But what about the new rank slides? Haven't got mine yet ...  ;D

 

[dimsum]

Mr. Kenney is probably just a caretaker meaning nothing of significant will be done while he is MND - the election is just around the corner.  Most procurement projects (value over $1 million) will most likely stop until he is fully briefed and comfortable and this will take months.  Again within DND nothing significant will be staffed until after the election.  This probably means that the ship building and search & rescue aircraft are on hold again.

I think the part in bold would have been that way regardless if the MND switched or not.