Chong lands cabinet posts

Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong had some new responsibilities added to his job Monday, when he was named as a member of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet. Chong, 34, was sworn in Monday as President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Sport. "I'm honoured to have been asked to serve in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's first cabinet," said Chong. "I will work hard to ensure that Canada is one nation indivisible from coast to coast to coast, so that all Canadians from all regions are an integral part of this great country of ours." Chong, 34, of Nichol Township, who is serving his second term as MP for the riding said although he now has additional tasks, "I remain committed to my primary responsibility-- that is to serve the people of Wellington-Halton Hills as their Member of Parliament in Ottawa." Prior to being elected, Chong served as an information officer for the NHL Players' Association and senior technology consultant with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. As Minister of Sport, Chong will have responsibilities for Sport Canada which supports the development of the Canadian sport system to strengthen the unique contribution that sport makes to Canadian identity, culture and society. Intergovernmental Affairs is part of the Privy Council Office and deals with policy in such areas as federal-provincial territorial relations, aboriginal affairs and the evolution of federation. Garth Turner was the last MP serving the area (Halton-Peel) to hold a cabinet post. Turner, currently the MP for Halton, served a short stint as Revenue Minister under Prime Minister Kim Campbell from June to November 1993. Prior to Turner, former Brampton-Georgetown MP John McDermid held junior cabinet positions from 1988-93 under former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Halton Hills council offered its congratulations to Chong at its meeting Monday night. "This speaks volumes of this young man and his endeavours. It doesn't matter which political stripes you belong to, I think it's quite a feat at his age to be a rising star that is being recognized," said Mayor Rick Bonnette.