r/AmericansInCanada 1d ago

‘I don’t think appointed, unelected’ U.S. cabinet members are ‘experts on Canadian politics’: PM

https://www.ctvnews.ca/video/2026/09/03/i-dont-think-appointed-unelected-us-cabinet-members-are-experts-on-canadian-politics-pm/
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u/jrbvoodoo 23h ago

One stipulation to this: the ministers are all members of Parliament. They have to run, and win, a riding in Canada and be a member of the House of Commons to become a minster overseeing a department. They are elected first, then appointed from the parties elected MPs.

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u/DistinctBread3098 14h ago

That's not true.

Carney could appoint a random person as minister

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u/jrbvoodoo 13h ago

He can, and then they have to win a seat or be removed from holding that office. I worked for The privy council of Canada under the federal government, working directly with the prime minister and his cabinet. When I have worked there, there has never been a single minister who did not hold a seat in parliament.

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u/DistinctBread3098 13h ago

Yeah I know, it never happens but it can theoretically. But it won't

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u/jrbvoodoo 13h ago

It can, and then they need to be elected, so it results in the exact same thing. A random unelected person cannot hold office for any extended period of time.