Ottawa – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the positions of Parliamentary Secretary to his new Cabinet Ministers sworn in yesterday. Among those selected for this promotion is local MP, Brian Jean, who was called by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Saturday and asked to serve as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Lawrence Cannon. “This is an exciting opportunity for me and I am looking forward to working on behalf of Canadians” he said. “Fort McMurray has serious transportation and infrastructure issues and I am glad that I will now be in a position to work constructively on these challenges” he continued.

The role of Parliamentary Secretary is an important one in the legislative process. The Parliamentary Secretary works closely with the Minister and often acts as his substitute in the House of Commons whether in Question Period or in Committee. “A Minister’s time is at a premium and it will fall to me to be his eyes and ears in the House and in Committee and to help shepherd legislation through the process when the Minister cannot” commented Mr. Jean. “It is an apprenticeship of sorts – and I am eager to get working” he said. “It is an honour to be chosen and I am up to the challenge” he concluded.

Top on Mr. Jean’s list of priorities will be to deal with the issue of the twinning of Highway 55 and 63 as well as receiving full briefings on all of the files associated with this important Cabinet portfolio.