Two Conservative MPs from the Prairies were promoted Sept. 19 when prime minister Stephen Harper announced parliamentary secretaries for the next session of Parliament beginning Oct. 16.
David Anderson, a southwestern Saskatchewan farmer, becomes parliamentary secretary to foreign affairs minister John Baird.
James Bezan, a Manitoba cattle producer and former chair of the Commons defence committee, becomes parliamentary secretary to the defence minister.
Rural eastern Ontario MP Pierre Lemieux was reappointed parliamentary secretary to agriculture minister Gerry Ritz.
Parliamentary secretaries speak for the minister in the House of Commons when the minister is absent, fill in for the minister at public events and represent the government on parliamentary committees.
Rookie MP Erin O’Toole from the Durham area east of Toronto becomes parliamentary secretary for international trade as Canada pursues trade agreements around the world and prepares for a meeting of the World Trade Organization in December.
Rookie MP Mark Strahl from British Columbia, son of former agriculture minister Chuck Strahl, receives his first government position as parliamentary secretary for aboriginal affairs and northern development.
