Saskatchewan Liberal MP appointed Secretary of State for Rural Development [Video]

Saskatchewan’s only Liberal Member of Parliament is taking on a new role in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government.

Buckley Belanger, who represents Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River, has been sworn in as Secretary of State for Rural Development.

He is one of 10 secretaries of state appointed by Carney.

“Belanger is going to have to wear a number of different caps here,” said Daniel Westlake, assistant professor of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

“He’s the Liberal MP from Saskatchewan, he’s the rural Liberal MP for Western Canada and he’s an Indigenous MP, so he’s got a lot of groups that he’s going to have to represent,” Westlake added.

The secretaries serve as members of the Privy Council and are responsible for important matters within their respective federal departments.

Although secretaries of state do not attend every cabinet meeting, they participate in discussions when topics related to their portfolios are being addressed.

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