Justin Trudeau, Canada’s new Prime Minister, has named a ministerial team that, for the first time in the country’s history, is equally balanced between men and women.
The 15 women and 15 men are for the most part under 50 and are representative of Canada’s diversity.
“It’s important to be here before you today to present to Canada a cabinet that looks like Canada,” Trudeau, 43, told reporters on Wednesday, after being officially sworn-in as the country’s 23rd prime minister, Canada’s second-youngest PM in history.
Asked to explain his gender parity promise, he answered: “Because it’s 2015.”
Many of the women have been given key roles, including former journalist Chrystia Freeland who has been handed the international trade brief. Maryam Monsef, who fled Afghanistan as a refugee 20 years ago, will oversee the democratic reform portfolio.
Just a few months ago, in the UK, new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announced a gender balanced shadow cabinet, although there were complaints that the majority of the top jobs went to white men.
