By Anthony Joseph

There’s no question that Mark Carney’s first cabinet, unveiled at Rideau Hall this week, represents a bold step forward for Canada. With a smaller, more focused group of 29 ministers, Carney has laid down a clear marker: this is not Justin Trudeau’s government continued. It is a reset, engineered for urgent action and meaningful results.

However, as proud as we are of the ambition and energy of this new administration, it is impossible to overlook the glaring shortfall in representation that strikes at the heart of our Black and Caribbean communities across Canada.

Marjorie Michel, born in Haiti, stands as the only Black member of cabinet. One. In a country where people of African and Caribbean descent have made, and continue to make, immeasurable contributions to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of our nation, this is not just an oversight, it is a painful failure.

First, let us acknowledge where Carney’s cabinet excels. Ten ministers who served under Trudeau are gone; a clear message that complacency and business-as-usual will no longer be tolerated. Five key ministers remained in their posts for continuity, François-Philippe Champagne at Finance, Chrystia Freeland overseeing Transport and Internal Trade, Stephen Guilbeault at Canadian Identity and Culture, Dominique LeBlanc at Intergovernmental Affairs and U.S. Trade, and Joanne Thompson at Fisheries.

Beyond that, Carney swept the decks. Former Defence Minister Bill Blair was out, replaced by David McGinty, a seasoned operator known for his experience in Canada-U.S. relations. The introduction of former fighter pilot Stephen Fuhrer as Secretary of State for Defence Procurement signals an overhaul of Canada’s military spending and procurement systems.

Carney has brought in star talent from outside electoral politics. Tim Hodgson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs Canada, is now Minister of Natural Resources. Gregor Robertson, former Vancouver mayor, is tasked with solving Canada’s housing crisis. It’s a “bench that can punch above its weight,” as one Liberal insider put it.

Carney’s clear commitment to building a single Canadian economy, eliminating interprovincial trade barriers by July 1, and doubling home construction, including through innovative modular housing, are bold moves the country desperately needs. The focus on reducing Canada’s dependence on the U.S. and diversifying trade is especially urgent amid rising U.S. protectionism.

For these reasons, Carney deserves credit. He has demonstrated courage and clarity. He has also signalled that this will not be a “PMO micromanaged” government. His ministers are expected to act, to innovate, and to lead.

And yet, amid all this justified optimism, the exclusion of Black Canadians from Carney’s vision of leadership cannot be ignored. One Black cabinet minister in 2025 is simply unacceptable.

Canada’s Black communities, including Caribbean Canadians, have long been underrepresented in federal politics. Under Trudeau, there was a modest but meaningful increase. At the height of Trudeau’s second mandate, four Black MPs held cabinet or parliamentary secretary roles. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a sign of progress.

This reversal sends a harmful message: that our communities are still seen as voters, volunteers, and workers, but not leaders. We are expected to show up on election day, but we are not invited to the table where decisions are made.

Representation matters. It matters for children growing up in North Preston, in Little Burgundy, in Jane and Finch, in Rexdale, in Little Jamaica. It matters for Haitian Canadians in Montreal, Jamaican Canadians in Toronto, Grenadian Canadians in Edmonton, and the growing African diaspora across the Prairies.

Marjorie Michel, as qualified and deserving as she is, cannot and should not be asked to be the lone voice for the entirety of Canada’s Black population. No other community would be expected to accept this token gesture as sufficient.

Why it matters? In 2025, no serious federal leader should require reminding that diversity and inclusion are not just ideals, they are national imperatives. A government that claims to reflect Canada must reflect the country as it truly exists.

We need Black Canadians at the table in decisions on justice reform, immigration, defence, education, public safety, and economic development. We need the lived experience that comes from walking in our shoes, facing systemic racism in education, healthcare, policing, and employment.

Our underrepresentation does not reflect a lack of talent or leadership in our communities. Canada is home to dynamic Black entrepreneurs, educators, artists, athletes, lawyers, doctors, and advocates. The Caribbean Canadian community, in particular, has built cultural, business, and social institutions that have sustained entire cities.

Carney knows this. As a former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, he understands the data: diversity is not just good politics; it’s good economics. Diverse leadership creates stronger organizations and better decision-making.

So why the exclusion? Was it a lack of effort in candidate recruitment? A blind spot in advisory circles? Whatever the cause, it is a misstep Carney must address.

We applaud this government’s early momentum, but we call on Carney to act immediately to rectify this imbalance. First, by appointing Black Canadians to senior leadership and advisory roles outside of cabinet. There is no shortage of qualified talent.

Second, by ensuring that future appointments—ambassadors, board chairs, agency heads, judges, Crown corporation directors—reflect the full diversity of Canada.

Third, by creating a standing advisory council on equity and representation, with Black Canadian leaders at its core, to hold government accountable and ensure that this never happens again.

Finally, we urge Black Canadians to remain engaged and vocal. We must continue to organize, mobilize, and demand our rightful place at the centre of Canada’s political life. We cannot allow ourselves to be relegated to the margins of government or policy-making.

Hope, with conditions

Mark Carney’s government represents real and needed change. His commitment to reset Canada’s economic relationship with the world, to invest in housing, to cut taxes for middle-class families, and to deliver urgently on national unity and economic growth deserves recognition.

But the test of this government’s legacy will not only be whether it delivered economic prosperity. It will be whether it builds a Canada where every community, including the Black and Caribbean Canadian community, feels equally seen, heard, and empowered.

There is still time to get it right. We urge Carney to seize this moment, not just as a builder of policy, but as a builder of inclusion. Our community is watching. Our community is ready.

The question is: Is Ottawa listening?