Actuality¹⁴⁹

On April 28, Canadians will elect their next federal government. Until then, the Liberal government continues its mandate under the leadership of Mark Carney, who became Canada's 24^th Prime Minister on March 14. A former governor of the Bank of Canada (2008-2013), he took office in a turbulent context, with the announcement, a few weeks later, of an early federal election.

DEI policies: will they remain a priority for the next federal government?

In the run-up to the federal election, Prime Minister Mark Carney reduced his cabinet from 38 to 23 ministers, arguing that a smaller team would make for more effective management in a precarious economic context. While international trade, foreign affairs and finance are put forward to protect the economy in the face of tariff tensions with the United States, the absence of ministers dedicated to women and gender equality, diversity and inclusion, and youth draws criticism. For advocates of equity, diversity and inclusion, this decision gives the impression that DEI is no longer a priority for this transitional government.

These files, while still in existence, have been integrated into other ministries. A government spokesperson explains that Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Culture and Canadian Identity, now oversees the Ministry of Women, Gender Equality and Inclusion, describing his portfolio as a “super-ministry”.¹ For his part, Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Employment and the Family, is responsible for issues relating to people with disabilities and youth.

At a time when some major companies are backing away from DEI in the United States, the question arises: will this trend influence policy in Canada and Quebec? Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to delegate these files to already overburdened ministries fuels this fear. That's why several Quebec organizations and personalities have co-signed the letter “L'EDI, une amie qui nous veut du bien”, calling for these commitments to be preserved.

Temporary or permanent superministries?

Although DEI issues have not disappeared under the Mark Carney government, they risk taking a back seat to more pressing priorities, such as the ongoing trade war. Combining them in an expanded portfolio dilutes the expertise, resources and attention required to effectively tackle systemic inequalities. Yet equity, diversity and inclusion require dedicated leadership and real accountability, difficult to guarantee if they remain secondary priorities in a ministry with no direct links.

This marginalization could slow down the progress made in recent years and weaken the implementation of inclusive policies, particularly in terms of access to employment, protection of minority rights and the fight against discrimination. Civil society organizations and inclusion experts are already voicing their concerns about this potential setback.

In addition, uncertainty remains over the temporary nature of the superministers, who could remain in place in the event of re-election on April 28, a scenario all the more likely in a context of economic crisis and trade tensions, the outcome of which remains uncertain. If this structure becomes permanent, it could redefine government priorities for the long term, and change Canada's approach to DEI.

Conclusion

In short, on April 28, voters will have to choose not only a federal government, but also a vision for the future of DEI in Canada. Is the current superminister structure a temporary response to an economic crisis, or a sign of lasting change?What happens next will depend on the verdict of the ballot box.

^{1 . https://www.fugues.com/2025/03/20/le-cabinet-carney-se-compose-de-moins-de-ministeres-ouvertement-axes-sur-ledi/}