# Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the 41st Parliament of Canada

The Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet in Canada is composed of members of the main Opposition party responsible for holding the Government to account and for developing and disseminating the party's policy positions. Members of the Official Opposition are generally referred to as Opposition Critics, but the term Shadow Minister (which is generally used in other Westminster systems) is also used.

## By Member

Following the 41st Canadian general election, held on May 2, 2011, the New Democratic Party replaced the Liberal Party of Canada as the Official Opposition in the 41st Parliament. 83 MPs have served in the Official Opposition Cabinet in the 41st Parliament. Highlight indicates Member was a Senior Shadow Minister at dissolution.
| Shadow Minister | Portfolio | Tenure |
| Malcolm Allen | Agriculture | May 26, 2011 — October 19, 2015 |
| Malcolm Allen | Deputy Natural Resources | January 23, 2011 — October 19, 2015 |
| Charlie Angus | Ethics | May 26, 2011 – October 19, 2015 |
| Niki Ashton | Status of Women | April 19, 2012 — January 22, 2015 |
| Niki Ashton | Aboriginal Affairs | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Robert Aubin | La Francophonie | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Robert Aubin | Deputy Transport | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Robert Aubin | Deputy Infrastructure and Communities | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Paulina Ayala | Consular Services | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Paulina Ayala | Deputy Consular Services | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Tyrone Benskin | Canadian Heritage | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Tyrone Benskin | Deputy Official Languages | April 19, 2012 — May 27, 2013 |
| Dennis Bevington | Deputy Aboriginal Affairs | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Dennis Bevington | Canadian Northern Economic Development | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Denis Blanchette | Deputy Public Works and Government Services | April 19, 2012 — August 13, 2013 |
| Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe | Deputy Seniors | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe | Seniors | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe | Citizenship and Immigration | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Françoise Boivin | Status of Women | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Françoise Boivin | Deputy Justice | September 21, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Françoise Boivin | Justice | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Charmaine Borg | Digital Issues | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet | Housing | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet | Deputy Human Resources and Skills Development | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet | Infrastructure and Communities | August 13, 2013 — January 22, 2015 |
| Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet | Deputy Infrastructure and Communities | January 21, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Alexandre Boulerice | Treasury Board | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Alexandre Boulerice | Labour | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Ruth Ellen Brosseau | Deputy Agriculture | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Guy Caron | Industry | November 1, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Guy Caron | Deputy Finance | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Guy Caron | Deputy International Trade | January 17, 2013 — January 22, 2015 |
| Andrew Cash | Deputy Housing | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Andrew Cash | Deputy Canadian Heritage | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Andrew Cash | Multiculturalism | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Andrew Cash | Consumer Affairs | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Chris Charlton | Chief Opposition Whip | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Chris Charlton | Human Resources and Skills Development | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Chris Charlton | Industry | August 13, 2013 — March 19, 2014 |
| Chris Charlton | Natural Resources | March 20, 2014 — January 22, 2015 |
| Sylvain Chicoine | Deputy Public Safety | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Sylvain Chicoine | Deputy Veterans Affairs | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Robert Chisholm | International Trade | May 26, 2011 — October 31, 2011 |
| Robert Chisholm | Fisheries and Oceans | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Robert Chisholm | Atlantic Gateway | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Robert Chisholm | Deputy Intergovernmental Affairs | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| François Choquette | Deputy Environment | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Olivia Chow | Transportation | May 26, 2011 — March 13, 2014 |
| David Christopherson | Democratic Reform | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| David Christopherson | Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness | October 14, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| David Christopherson | Deputy NDP Leader (Ontario) | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Ryan Cleary | Post Secondary Education | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Ryan Cleary | Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Joe Comartin | Justice | May 26, 2011 — October 12, 2011 |
| Joe Comartin | Opposition House Leader | October 13, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Joe Comartin | Democratic Reform | April 19, 2012 — September 16, 2012 |
| Raymond Côté | Small Business & Tourism | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Nathan Cullen | Deputy Natural Resources (Western Canada) | May 26, 2011 — October 2, 2011 |
| Nathan Cullen | Opposition House Leader | April 19, 2012 — March 19, 2014 |
| Nathan Cullen | Finance | March 20, 2014 — October 19, 2015 |
| Jean Crowder | Human Resources and Social Development | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Jean Crowder | Privacy | October 3, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Jean Crowder | Aboriginal Affairs | April 19, 2012 — January 22, 2015 |
| Don Davies | Citizenship and Immigration | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Don Davies | International Trade | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Don Davies | Deputy Multiculturalism | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Don Davies | Deputy Citizenship and Immigration | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Libby Davies | Deputy NDP Leader (Western Canada) | May 26, 2011 — October 19, 2015 |
| Libby Davies | Health | May 26, 2011 — January 22, 2015 |
| Anne-Marie Day | Deputy Human Resources and Skills Development | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Anne-Marie Day | Deputy Public Works and Government Services | August 13, 2013 — January 22, 2015 |
| Anne-Marie Day | La Francophonie | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Paul Dewar | Foreign Affairs | May 26, 2011 — October 2, 2011 |
| Paul Dewar | Foreign Affairs | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Pierre Dionne Labelle | La Francophonie | April 19, 2012 — January 22, 2015 |
| Pierre Dionne Labelle | National Revenue | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Fin Donnelly | Fisheries and Oceans | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Fin Donnelly | Western Economic Diversification | April 19, 2012 — April 18, 2012 |
| Fin Donnelly | Deputy Fisheries and Oceans | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Fin Donnelly | Deputy Infrastructure and Communities | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Rosane Doré Lefebvre | Deputy Public Safety | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Matthew Dubé | Deputy Post Secondary Education | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Matthew Dubé | Sport | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Matthew Dubé | Youth | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Linda Duncan | Aboriginal Affairs | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Linda Duncan | Public Works and Government Services | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Linda Duncan | Western Economic Diversification | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Mylène Freeman | Status of Women | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Randall Garrison | LGBT Issues | May 26, 2011 — October 19, 2015 |
| Randall Garrison | Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Jonathan Genest-Jourdain | Deputy Aboriginal Affairs | May 26, 2011 — October 19, 2015 |
| Yvon Godin | Labour | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Yvon Godin | Official Languages | May 26, 2011 — January 22, 2015 |
| Claude Gravelle | Natural Resources | October 3, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Claude Gravelle | Official Languages | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Sadia Groguhé | Deputy Citizenship and Immigration | May 26, 2011 — August 12, 2013 |
| Sadia Groguhé | Deputy Multiculturalism | May 26, 2011 — August 12, 2013 |
| Sadia Groguhé | Deputy Opposition House Leader | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Sadia Groguhé | Deputy Chief Opposition Whip | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Sadia Groguhé | Deputy Employment and Social Development | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Dan Harris | Deputy Science and Technology | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Dan Harris | Deputy Industry | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Jack Harris | Justice | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Jack Harris | National Defence | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Carol Hughes | Deputy Aboriginal Affairs (Aboriginal Health) | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Peter Julian | Industry | May 26, 2011 — October 31, 2011 |
| Peter Julian | Finance | October 28, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Peter Julian | Natural Resources | April 19, 2012 — March 19, 2014 |
| Peter Julian | Opposition House Leader | March 20, 2014 — October 19, 2015 |
| Matthew Kellway | Deputy National Defence (Military Procurement) | May 26, 2011 — August 12, 2013 |
| Matthew Kellway | Urban Affairs | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Matthew Kellway | Deputy Transport | March 20, 2014 — October 19, 2015 |
| Matthew Kellway | Infrastructure and Communities | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| François Lapointe | Small Business and Tourism | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| François Lapointe | Economic Development (Quebec) | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Alexandrine Latendresse | Deputy Democratic Reform | May 26, 2011 — October 19, 2015 |
| Hélène Laverdière | International Cooperation | May 26, 2011 — October 2, 2011 |
| Hélène Laverdière | Deputy Foreign Affairs | May 26, 2011 — October 2, 2011 |
| Hélène Laverdière | Foreign Affairs | October 3, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Hélène Laverdière | Consular Services | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Hélène Laverdière | International Cooperation | October 22, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Hélène Laverdière | Deputy Foreign Affairs | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Jack Layton | Leader of the NDP | May 26, 2011 – August 22, 2011 |
| Jack Layton | Leader of the Opposition | May 26, 2011 – August 22, 2011 |
| Jack Layton | Intergovernmental Affairs | May 26, 2011 – August 22, 2011 |
| Hélène LeBlanc | Science and Technology | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Hélène LeBlanc | Industry | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Megan Leslie | Environment | May 26, 2011 — October 19, 2015 |
| Megan Leslie | Deputy NDP Leader (Atlantic Canada) | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Hoang Mai | National Revenue | May 26, 2011 — January 16, 2013 |
| Hoang Mai | Deputy Justice | Jnnuary 17, 2013 — August 12, 2013 |
| Hoang Mai | Deputy Transport | August 13, 2013 — March 19, 2014 |
| Hoang Mai | Transport | March 20, 2014 — October 19, 2015 |
| Wayne Marston | Human Rights | May 26, 2011 — October 19, 2015 |
| Wayne Marston | Economic Development (S. Ontario) | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Wayne Marston | Consular Affairs | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Wayne Marston | Deputy Labour | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Brian Masse | International Trade | November 1, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Brian Masse | Economic Development (S. Ontario) | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Brian Masse | Small Business and Tourism | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Pat Martin | Canadian Wheat Board | May 26, 2011 — August 12, 2013 |
| Pat Martin | Public Works and Government Services | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Irene Mathyssen | Seniors | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Irene Mathyssen | Pensions | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Irene Mathyssen | Seniors | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Irene Mathyssen | Deputy Canadian Heritage | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Élaine Michaud | Deputy National Defence | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Christine Moore | Deputy National Defence | May 26, 2011 — August 12, 2013 |
| Christine Moore | Deputy Natural Resources | Jnnuary 17, 2013 — January 22, 2015 |
| Christine Moore | Deputy Health | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Dany Morin | Deputy LGBT Issues | May 26, 2011 — August 12, 2013 |
| Dany Morin | Deputy Health | August 13, 2013 — January 22, 2015 |
| Dany Morin | Deputy Public Works and Government Services | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Marie-Claude Morin | Housing | October 3, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Thomas Mulcair | Opposition House Leader | May 26, 2011 — October 12, 2011 |
| Thomas Mulcair | Leader of the NDP | April 19, 2012 – October 19, 2015 |
| Thomas Mulcair | Leader of the Opposition | April 19, 2012 – October 19, 2015 |
| Thomas Mulcair | Intergovernmental Affairs | April 19, 2012 – October 19, 2015 |
| Pierre Nantel | Sport | May 26, 2011 — October 31, 2011 |
| Pierre Nantel | Canadian Heritage | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Peggy Nash | Finance | May 26, 2011 — October 27, 2011 |
| Peggy Nash | Finance | April 19, 2012 — March 19, 2014 |
| Peggy Nash | Industry | March 20, 2014 — October 19, 2015 |
| Jamie Nicholls | Deputy Transport, Infrastructure and Communities | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Jamie Nicholls | Deputy Natural Resources | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Jamie Nicholls | Deputy Official Languages | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Annick Papillon | Deputy Veterans Affairs | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Annick Papillon | Deputy Small Business and Tourism | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Ève Péclet | Deputy Foreign Affairs | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Ève Péclet | Deputy Justice | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| John Rafferty | Economic Development (N. Ontario) | April 19, 2012 – October 19, 2015 |
| John Rafferty | Pensions | January 23, 2015 – October 19, 2015 |
| Murray Rankin | National Revenue | January 17, 2013 — January 22, 2015 |
| Murray Rankin | Health | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Murray Rankin | Deputy National Revenue | January 23, 2015 — October 19, 2015 |
| Mathieu Ravignat | Public Works and Government Services | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Mathieu Ravignat | Deputy International Trade | May 26, 2011 — September 20, 2011 |
| Mathieu Ravignat | Treasury Board | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Jean Rousseau | Deputy Agriculture | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Jean Rousseau | Deputy Public Works and Government Services | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Anne Minh-Thu Quach | Deputy Health | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Anne Minh-Thu Quach | Deputy Environment | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Anne Minh-Thu Quach | Deputy Industry | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Jasbir Sandhu | Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Jasbir Sandhu | Asia-Pacific Gateway | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Craig Scott | Deputy Justice | April 19, 2012 — January 16, 2013 |
| Craig Scott | Democratic Reform | September 20, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |
| Djaouida Sellah | Deputy Health | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Jinny Sims | International Cooperation | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Jinny Sims | Deputy Consular Services | May 26, 2011 — October 2, 2011 |
| Jinny Sims | Deputy Foreign Affairs | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Jinny Sims | Citizenship and Immigration | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Jinny Sims | Multiculturalism | April 19, 2012 — August 12, 2013 |
| Jinny Sims | Employment and Social Development | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Rathika Sitsabaiesan | Post Secondary Education | May 26, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Kennedy Stewart | Deputy Natural Resources (Western Canada) | October 3, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Peter Stoffer | Veterans Affairs | May 26, 2011 — October 19, 2015 |
| Glenn Thibeault | Sport | November 1, 2011 — April 18, 2012 |
| Glenn Thibeault | Small Business and Tourism | August 13, 2013 — January 22, 2015 |
| Glenn Thibeault | Consumer Affairs | August 13, 2013 — January 22, 2015 |
| Philip Toone | Deputy Fisheries and Oceans | May 26, 2011 — October 19, 2015 |
| Philip Toone | Deputy Chief Opposition Whip | May 26, 2011 — August 12, 2013 |
| Philip Toone | Deputy Opposition House Leader | August 13, 2013 — October 19, 2015 |
| Nycole Turmel | Public Works and Government Services | May 26, 2011 — August 22, 2011 |
| Nycole Turmel | Leader of the NDP | August 23, 2011 – March 23, 2012 |
| Nycole Turmel | Leader of the Opposition | August 23, 2011 – March 23, 2012 |
| Nycole Turmel | Intergovernmental Affairs | August 23, 2011 – April 18, 2012 |
| Nycole Turmel | Chief Opposition Whip | April 19, 2012 — October 19, 2015 |

## Composition

Party leader Jack Layton announced his first Shadow Cabinet as Leader of the Opposition on May 26, 2011. Layton went on a leave of absence beginning July 28, 2011, in order to fight a new cancer and Nycole Turmel was appointed interim leader. Jack Layton died on August 22, 2011.
Thomas Mulcair was elected leader of the NDP, and by extension Leader of the Opposition, at a leadership election held on March 24, 2012, and reshuffled the Shadow Cabinet on April 19, 2012. Craig Scott replaced Joe Comartin as Democratic Reform critic after the latter became Deputy Speaker in September 2012. On January 17, 2013, Mulcair replaced Hoang Mai with Murray Rankin as National Revenue critic. The shadow cabinet was last shuffled on March 20, 2014.
| Portfolio | Critic |
| Leader of the Opposition Leader of the NDP Intergovernmental Affairs | Hon. Thomas Mulcair |
| Deputy Leader of the NDP Health | Libby Davies |
| Deputy Leader of the NDP | David Christopherson |
| Deputy Leader of the NDP Environment | Megan Leslie |
| Opposition House Leader Caucus Chair | Peter Julian |
| Deputy Opposition House Leader Deputy Employment and Social Development | Sadia Groguhé |
| Opposition Whip | Nycole Turmel |
| Deputy Opposition Whip Deputy Fisheries (East Coast) | Philip Toone |
| Agriculture and Agri-Food | Malcolm Allen |
| Ethics, Access to Information and Privacy | Charlie Angus |
| Employment Insurance | Robert Aubin |
| Women | Niki Ashton |
| Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency | Dennis Bevington |
| Citizenship and Immigration | Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe |
| Justice | Françoise Boivin |
| Digital Issues | Charmaine Borg |
| Labour Deputy Ethics, Access to Information and Privacy | Alexandre Boulerice |
| Housing and Infrastructure | Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet |
| Multiculturalism | Andrew Cash |
| Energy and Natural Resources | Chris Charlton |
| Fisheries Deputy Employment Insurance | Robert Chisholm |
| Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency | Ryan Cleary |
| Aboriginal Affairs | Jean Crowder |
| Finance | Nathan Cullen |
| International Trade Deputy Multiculturalism | Don Davies |
| Employment Insurance | Anne-Marie Day |
| Foreign Affairs | Paul Dewar |
| La Francophonie | Pierre Dionne Labelle |
| Western Economic Diversification Canada | Linda Duncan |
| Sport Youth | Matthew Dubé |
| Public Safety LGBT Issues | Randall Garrison |
| Official Languages | Yvon Godin |
| Post-Secondary Education | Dan Harris |
| National Defence | Jack Harris |
| Urban Affairs Deputy Transport | Matthew Kellway |
| Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions | François Lapointe |
| International Development Deputy Foreign Affairs | Hélène Laverdière |
| Co-operatives | Hélène Leblanc |
| Transport | Hoang Mai |
| Human Rights Americas and Consular Affairs Deputy Labour | Wayne Marston |
| Public Works and Government Services | Pat Martin |
| Seniors Deputy Heritage | Irene Mathyssen |
| Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Canada–US Border & Great Lakes | Brian Masse |
| Industry | Peggy Nash |
| Heritage | Pierre Nantel |
| Disabilities Issues | Mike Sullivan |
| Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario | John Rafferty |
| National Revenue Pensions | Murray Rankin |
| Treasury Board | Mathieu Ravignat |
| Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec | Jean Rousseau |
| Asia–Pacific Gateway | Jasbir Sandhu |
| Democratic and Parliamentary Reform | Craig Scott |
| Employment and Social Development | Jinny Sims |
| Caucus Vice-chair | Rathika Sitsabaiesan |
| Science and Technology | Kennedy Stewart |
| Veterans Affairs | Peter Stoffer |
| Small Business and Tourism Consumer Protection | Brian Masse |