Wrzesnewskyj Appointed to Dion’s Shadow Cabinet

Federal Liberal leader Stephane Dion has appointed MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Etobicoke Centre) as the Official Opposition’s Critic for Crown Corporations.  The appointment was made on January 18.

Commenting on his appointment to the shadow cabinet, Wrzesnewskyj said: “It is an honour and a privilege to have been asked to serve as the Critic for Crown Corporations, and I would like to thank Official Opposition Leader Stephane Dion for this opportunity and challenge and for his trust in my abilities.

“I look forward to working with my critic colleagues in holding this minority government accountable. Crown Corporations are among Canada’s largest economic entities and have daily impact on the lives of Canadians.

“In my capacity as critic I will address the concerns of Canadians and our party with 11 different Ministers in a diverse number of Crown Corporations, ranging from the CBC and Via Rail to the International Development Research Centre and Atomic Energy Canada. 

An opposition critic’s role and responsibility is to shadow a particular Minister(s) and his or her work in their particular portfolios.

Dion’s new 53-member shadow cabinet includes some of his rivals for the Liberal Party leadership and many of their supporters. Michael Ignatieff, who was appointed Deputy Leader before Christmas, will co-chair, along with Dion, a new Priorities and Planning Committee.

Other former leadership candidates were also given top posts: Scott Brison, Joe Volpe and Ken Dryden, as industry critic, transport critic and chair of the caucus’s newly created social justice committee, respectively.

Gerard Kennedy, one of three former leadership contenders without a seat in the Commons, will chair the mentorship committee, whose members will advise new candidates who are recruited to run in the next election. In addition, Kennedy will advise Dion on election readiness.