Kelowna MP gets supporting role in new Liberal government cabinet

Kelowna MP Stephen Fuhr wrested the riding from the Conservatives and now he has a supporting role in the cabinet as a secretary of state.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the government’s new cabinet today, May 13, with 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Fuhr is the secretary of state in charge of defence procurement. He was a pilot with the Royal Canadian Armed Forces until 2009 and prior to his win as an MP he worked as a Transport Canada pilot examiner and aviation consultant.

“Canada’s new Ministry is built to deliver the change Canadians want and deserve. Everyone is expected and empowered to show leadership – to bring new ideas, a clear focus, and decisive action to their work,” Carney said in the release.

David J. McGuinty is the Minister of National Defence and Jill McKnight is the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence.

While Fuhr is not technically a cabinet minister he could participate in cabinet meetings when military spending is up for discussion.

Fuhr’s appointment comes shortly after Carney promised to increase Canada’s military spending to two per cent of our gross domestic product to meet the target set by NATO. This year the country is projected to spend 1.4 per cent of our GDP on defence.