Fresh off another election victory, North Island MP John Duncan retained his position in the federal cabinet as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his new cabinet today (Wednesday) in Ottawa.
Also of note for the North Island riding, there’s another new Fisheries Minister who’s not from the West Coast.
The former minister, Gail Shea from Newfoundland, is now the Minister of National Revenue, while Keith Ashfield, from Fredericton, New Brunswick, takes over as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and Minister for Atlantic Gateway.
Duncan’s bio
Duncan was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993 and re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2011.
From 2006-’07, Mr. Duncan was Pacific Region Advisor to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. From 2008-’10, he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. In August 2010, Duncan was appointed Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Duncan previously held a number of opposition critic positions, including Indian Affairs and Northern Development, International Trade and Natural Resources.
From 1972 until his election to Parliament in 1993, he worked in the coastal B.C. forest industry. Duncan attended the University of British Columbia and graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the Faculty of Forestry in 1972.