Holder named junior minister for S&T as Rickford moves up to NRCan portfolio

After just seven months in the position, Greg Rickford has been replaced by Ed Holder as minister of state for science and technology — part of a minor Cabinet shuffle stemming from the resignation of Finance minister Jim Flaherty. Flaherty's departure saw the appointment of Joe Oliver to the portfolio with Rickford replacing him as minister of Natural Resources Canada.

Holder is a three-term Conservative backbencher representing the riding of London West who has been a member of several committees including the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. Prior to his election to public office, Holder was in the insurance business, most recently as president of Stevenson & Hunt Insurance Brokers Ltd, London.

The change in ministers for S&T comes as Industry Canada prepares a refreshed S&T Strategy for release in the coming months. A consultation paper — Seizing Canada's Moment: Moving Forward in Science, Technology and Innovation — was released in January with a deadline for comments set for February 7th.

For Rickford, his appointment to helm the NRCan portfolio constitutes a major promotion. He also retains his status as minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario. Rickford represents the large, remote riding of Kenora and has federal responsibility for the massive proposed Ring of Fire mining project in the James Bay Lowlands.

Rickford arrives at NRCan in the midst of difficult negotiations with First Nations groups over several proposed pipelines, the appointment of a new chief scientist (see page 7) and declining funding for the department's diverse R&D efforts from mining to forestry and clean energy.

While Rickford held the S&T minister's position only briefly, the position has been held by several others for an even shorter time. The shortest appointment to the S&T portfolio on record is Ed Lumley during the Liberal government of John Turner. Lumley held the position for little more than two and a half months in mid-1984.

R$