Portfolios have been assigned among the NDP members of parliament (MP) and Bonita Zarrillo will take on a trio of agendas.
Jagmeet Singh announced critic positions to his elected cabinet colleagues from the Sept. 20, 2021, federal election this morning (Oct. 29).
He's given the new Port Moody-Coquitlam MP three areas of critical focus during the next tenure in Ottawa.
DISABILITY INCLUSION
This particular portfolio falls under the same-name title as the ministry of employment, work development and disability inclusion.
Liberal MP Carla Qualtrough (Delta, B.C.) is remaining in this position despite prime minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet shuffle on Tuesday (Oct. 26).
She's responsible for Employment and Social Development Canada, which is the federal department that oversees programs like employment insurance, the Canada pension plan, old age security and Canada student loans.
HEALTH
Zarrillo has been assigned as the deputy critic for this portfolio alongside fellow NDP MP Don Davies (Vancouver-Kingsway).
Trudeau assigned Jean-Yves Duclos (Quebec) as the new minister of health taking over for Patty Hajdu in the cabinet shuffle.
He's responsible for overseeing health-focused government agencies such as Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, as well as enforcing the Canada Health Act, the law governing Canada's universal health care system.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES
This is a new portfolio that combines it with intergovernmental affairs, headed by Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc (Beauséjour, N.B.).
He's responsible for the feds' relations with the governments of the provinces and territories of Canada, as well as the development of Canada's infrastructure alongside Infrastructure Canada and the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
For Zarrillo, her area of expertise is likely to lie within this ministry as the NDP's critic.
She's noted in several interviews that it's hard for Tri-City residents to stay in their hometowns because of the rising cost of living, resulting in most moving elsewhere for a roof over their head.
"Over 50 per cent of our community comes from somewhere else and I'll bring that knowledge to the caucus," Zarrillo told the Tri-City News during the federal election campaign.
"We need to get people into homes in this region. Too many are being 'demo-evicted,' having to move away, not being able to come into this community, we need to get people into homes now."
Singh has met with Zarrillo in the Port Moody-Coquitlam riding on a number of occasions, including once during the 2021 campaign trail to talk about housing affordability.
In a statement today, he said he believes his orange caucus members can fight for Canadians and their families in ensuring accountability in the House of Commons.
"We’re going to use these strengths to push the government for concrete action on climate justice that includes a just transition for workers and communities, real reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and help to make life more affordable for Canadians."
Zarrillo flipped the Port Moody-Coquitlam riding from the Conservatives with 37.2 per cent of the vote once all the ballots were counted.
The now former Coquitlam city councillor ended her bid with 19,367 votes from the 206 polls across riding, which saw a 62.22 per cent total voter turnout.
"I’m happy to serve this community," said Zarrillo, also in an earlier interview with the Tri-City News.
"The wheels will be in motion to get serving this community."
Meanwhile, now three-term Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam MP Ron McKinnon was not assigned to a portfolio by Trudeau when he announced his new Liberal cabinet this week.
Though nothing has been made official as of this publication, he is likely to stay as chair of the standing committee on health, and as a member of the standing committee on justice and human rights.
