Quebecers have high hopes for Justin Trudeau's first Liberal cabinet

Hopes have soared in Quebec in anticipation of the naming of Justin Trudeau's first cabinet, which is expected to featurea beefed-up contingent representing theprovince.

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Trudeau, a lifelongMontrealer, has 39 fellowQuebec MPs to choose from,a far larger pool than his predecessor Stephen Harper'sfive Quebec MPs.

MarcGarneau,MlanieJolyand former Liberal leaderStphaneDionare the Liberal MPsthought to have an inside track on a plum cabinet post.

CBCinterviewedsome notableQuebecersto find out what results they hope to see from the new cabinet.

Science research

Francesca Cicchetti, a neuroscientistwho is leading research into Parkinson's disease at theUniversit Laval, is anxious to see the cupboard restocked when it comes to funding science.

"I hope that our newly appointed Prime Minister, Mr. Trudeau,will recognize the urgent need to drastically review science policies imposed by the previous government and allocate more money to fundamental research," she said.

"Scientists have suffered from major budget cuts over the last few years and consequentlyseveral excellent laboratories have had to abandon their research programs.Major breakthroughs in health care will come from cutting-edge scientific research, and therefore it should be a priority for our government if Canada is to strengthen and maintain its worldwide leadership position in this area."

Social justice

PayamAkhavan, associate professor of law atMcGillUniversity, is hoping Trudeau's maiden cabinetdevotes itself to social justice.

"The composition of the new federal cabinet is an important opportunity to build a more open and progressive political culture in Canada," he said.

"Despite the need for more experienced MPs, there is a promising and diverse new generation that should be accommodated as best as possible.The Prime Minister's commitment to gender-balance is a welcome first stepbut there is also a need to reflect Canada's multicultural reality, and to address the moral challenge of historical injustices.

"In particular, a record 10 aboriginal MPs have been elected, providing a unique occasion for inclusion of these long-suffering peoples, not least on decisions concerning their own future, on the path to healing and national reconciliation.

"Beyond selecting suitable MPs however, enlightened leadership will also require a new approach towards power that confronts the divisive cynicism, bickering and corruption, that so many have come to associate with political life."

Homelessness

Matthew Pearce,director of Montreal's Old Brewery Mission homeless shelter, feels that better government co-ordination should be a centralfocus in the effort to put roofs over everybody's heads.

"They need to deliver in meaningful way in terms of funding.In relation to homelessness, they should focus on collaborating with the other levels of governments to develop a common sense of direction leading towards the ending of homelessness, not just managing the phenomena better.

"We can radically change [people's] experience in homelessness and shorten itand eliminate homelessness as a way of living and instead make it a short segment of someone's life."

Poverty

Tommy Kulczyk,Sun Youth's assistant executivevice-president, is keeping an eye on financial policy.

"Mr. Trudeau has clearly announced he's going to make changes for the middle class.Obviously that`s something we're interested in,"Kulczyk said.

"We're anxious to hear who he's naming as minister.Anything that touches the middle class and the working poor, we're interested in.We've been around for 61 years. Our job is to work with any government in place."

Environment

StevenGuilbeault, the co-founder and senior director of environmental organizationEquiterre,is urging a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which he hopes to see reduced to a point of 35 per cent below 2005 levels.

"Justin Trudeau promised to make sureCanada does its share in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.We understand it's an ambitious target, butwe want to to keep global temperatures from skyrocketing."