PM names Lapierre new Transport Minister

OTTAWA, (July 21, 2004) — Prime Minister Paul Martin unveiled his cabinet yesterday, and once again shuffled the Transport portfolio.

Tony Valeri’s short stint as Transport Minister is over. The Hamilton, Ont. MP and Martin loyalist was promoted to House leader, which has traditionally been a key post in a minority government.

Jean Lapierre, MP for Outremont, Que., will take over for Valeri.

Lapierre was first elected to the House of Commons from 1979 to 1990, and was re-elected in 2004. He served as Parliamentary Secretary to a number of ministers and was Minister of State for Youth and for Fitness and Amateur Sport. In Opposition, he was critic for foreign trade, economic development and constitutional affairs.

Originally from the Magdalen Islands, Jean Lapierre studied law at the University of Ottawa and was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1979. While in university, Lapierre began his political career. He served as special assistant to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and executive assistant to the Minister of State for Urban Affairs.

The trucking industry has to yet again deal with what has become a revolving door at the Ministry of Transport — traditionally regarded as being low on the cabinet totem pole.

The ministerial change could also alter the momentum the Canadian Trucking Alliance felt it was building in Ottawa. CTA President David Bradley told Today’s Trucking several months ago that he was optimistic about Valeri, after a rocky relationship with former Transport Minister David Collenette — who on many occasions didn’t hide his personal support for the rail industry.

The 39-member cabinet will hold its first working session today to start grabbling with some of the issues Martin outlined during the election campaign.