News

OTTAWA – Official Opposition Leader Jack Layton announced his shadow economic development team that will pressure the Conservative government to create jobs and invest in regional economic development. Layton also appointed deputy and associate critics to key roles. “Our regional economic development team will hold the government to account for its job creation strategies,” said Layton. “In too many regions, the economic recovery has still not arrived. Our team represents Canada from coast to coast to coast and will hold the government’s feet to the fire and make sure no region is left behind.” New Democrats’ Regional Economic Development team includes: Claude Gravelle (FedNor), Dennis Bevington (Northern Economic Development Agency), Brian Masse (Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario), Guy Caron (Economic Development agency for regions of Québec), Kennedy Stewart (Western Economic Diversification), Randall Garrison (Asia-Pacific Gateway) and Robert Chisholm (ACOA and the Atlantic Gateway). Layton also appointed a number of MPs to Associate Critic roles in key areas, as well as assigning Deputy Critic roles to new MPs. Bruce Hyer was appointed Associate Environment Critic for Biodiversity and National Parks, Jinny Sims as Associate Critic for Consular Affairs, Nathan Cullen as Associate Natural Resources Critic for Western Canada and Brian Masse as Associate Critic for the U.S.–Canada Border and High Speed Rail. Tarik Brahmi was appointed Deputy Critic for Consumer Protection, Phil Toone Deputy Critic for Fisheries, Mathieu Ravignat Deputy Critic for International Trade and Jonathan Genest-Jourdain Deputy Critic for Aboriginal Affairs. “This is an amazing and diverse group of MPs ready to bring experience and new energy to the House of Commons,” said Layton. “We’ll make sure the concerns of Canadian families are front and centre in this new Parliament.”

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Associate Critics
New Democrat MP	Critic Area
Dennis Bevington	Associate Critic for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development: The North
Nathan Cullen	Associate Critic for Western Canada Natural Resources
Bruce Hyer	Associate Critic for Biodiversity & Parks
Brian Masse	Associate Critic for High Speed Rail & U.S.–Canada Border
Jinny Sims	Associate Critic for Consular Affairs

Deputy Critics
New Democrat MP	Ministry/Area
Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe	Seniors
Tarik Brahmi	Consumer Protection
Andrew Cash	Housing
Sylvain Chicoine	Public Safety
Anne-Marie Day	Human Resources and Skills Development
Matthew Dubé	Post-secondary Education
Jonathan Genest-Jourdain	Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Alain Giguère	Pensions
Sadia Groguhé	Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism
Dan Harris	Science and Technology
Bruce Hyer	Small Business and Tourism
Mathew Kellway	Military Procurement
Pierre Dionne Labelle	CRTC, Copyright and Digital Issues
Alexandrine Latendresse	Democratic Reform
Hélène Laverdière	Foreign Affairs
Lauren Liu	Environment
Jamie Nicholls	Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Annick Papillon	Veterans Affairs
Anne Minh-Thu Quach	Health
Mathieu Ravignat	International Trade
Jean Rousseau	Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mike Sullivan	Persons with Disabilities
Phil Toone	Fisheries and Oceans