DM/CDS Message: Welcome to the new Minister of National Defence
July 26, 2023 - Defence Stories

Today, we welcome the Honourable Bill Blair as our new Minister of National Defence following the announcement of changes to the federal cabinet.
Minister Blair (Member of Parliament for Scarborough Southwest) has served to help keep Canadians safe throughout his public service career. Since being first elected to Parliament in 2015, Minister Blair has served as President of the King’s Privy Council, Minister of Emergency Preparedness, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction.
Prior to entering public life, Minister Blair served 39 years as a police officer and was Chief of the Toronto Police Service, leading the largest municipal police service in Canada. In this role, he oversaw efforts to combat violent crime while supporting local policing initiatives.
In addition, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor (Member of Parliament for Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe) was named as Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence. Minister Petitpas Taylor previously served as Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Minister of Health, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance following a 23-year career as a social worker.
As Ministers Blair and Petitpas Taylor join the Defence Team, we also say goodbye to Minister Anand and Minister MacAulay and thank them for their leadership as ardent champions of the Defence Team. We wish Minister Anand well in her new role as President of the Treasury Board, and Minister MacAulay well as Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Please join us in welcoming Ministers Blair and Petitpas Taylor to the Defence Team. We know that you will support them while continuing to deliver excellence in service to Canada at home, abroad and in support of our Allies and partners.
Bill Matthews
Deputy Minister of National Defence
General Wayne Eyre
Chief of the Defence Staff
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