OTTAWA (djc) – Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien accepted the resignation of Arthur Eggleton as Minister of National Defence and announced changes to his cabinet on Sunday, giving the Defence portfolio to John McCallum, a Toronto-area MP first elected in the fall 2000 election.
Arthur Eggleton came under intense fire Saturday after it was exposed that his office awarded a $36,500 untendered contract to former babe Maggie Maier, president of One World Communications.
Last week the opposition had attacked Public Works Minister Don Boudria that his department had been involved in awarding a Quebec advertising firm (Groupaction) in 1999, a public relations contract worth $1.6-million for which no other agency was invited to compete.
Boudria has also been under fire for vacationing at the luxury home belonging to the head of advertising firm that has been receiving government contracts from Mr. Boudria’s department. Current House Leader Ralph Goodale will take over the Public Works portfolio.
Recently, auditor-General Sheila Fraser concluded in an audit that senior public servants “broke just about every rule in the book” in the handling of the government contracts with Groupaction prompting the RCMP to launch a criminal investigation.
Here are the changes in the bombshell shuffle:
Ralph E. Goodale becomes Minister of Public Works and Government Services, while retaining his duties as Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians.
Don Boudria becomes Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.
Rey Pagtakhan, Minister of Veterans Affairs, takes on the additional duties of Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development).
John McCallum has been appointed Minister of National Defence.
Maurizio Bevilacqua becomes Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions).
Jean Augustine has been sworn to the Privy Council and appointed Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women).
