Oaths sworn, the work begins. Some suggestions for some ‘first ups’ for PM Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet:

No lack of pressing cases, concerns, issues and opportunities face PM Trudeau’s new Cabinet of remaining, shuffled and new Ministers. And so much of it is all about human rights. With advice pouring in from all corners, how could I refrain from offering some of my own…

• Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu, drop the appeals. Focus on delivering equality for First Nations, not fighting it.

• Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller, you are faced with needed plans for action and implementation when it comes to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the TRC Calls to Action and the MMIWG Calls to Justice. Make it real.

• Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly, after several years of talk it is time to make sure that Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy truly takes flight, and that an international human rights action plans is instituted to guide all of Canada’s global dealings. That has to include no more arms sales to Saudi Arabia. And please prioritize securing freedom for Huseyin Celil after more than 15 years of unjust imprisonment in China.

• Minister of Justice David Lametti, let the French government know that Canada will not entertain any second extradition request for Hassan Diab; and then get down to the work of reforming Canada’s extradition law.

• Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser, scrap the Canada/US Safe Third Country Agreement and make that border all about human rights for refugees. And pull out all the stops to make sure that bold and generous Afghan refugee evacuation and resettlement gets underway in a big way.

• Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino, it is time to at long last put in place independent oversight of the Canada Border Services Agency. And do take up the important recommendations on immigration detention from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

• Minister of Women and Gender Equality Marci Ien, onward in developing the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

• Minister of Housing Ahmed Hussen, it is certainly exciting that Canada at long last has a housing ministry. This is your opportunity to make housing all about human rights and to put in place a strong Federal Housing Advocate to back that up. And Minister of Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen, the time is now for concrete progress on addressing anti-Black racism and Islamophobia.

• Minister of International Trade Mary Ng, welcome back. You ducked this during your first two years in the role but it is so vital to give the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise the full powers needed to conduct effective and independent investigations into allegations of Canadian corporate human rights abuses.

• Ministers Joly and Lametti, a promise made 5 years ago to get on board the UN’s torture prevention treaty, OPCAT, has gone precisely nowhere and there is no leader to be seen around the cabinet table. Canada has disgracefully avoided taking this step for 19 years. You must join forces to get us across the OPCAT finish line.

• Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodríguez, since your last stint there has been a new Forum of Ministers on Human Rights set up with provincial and territorial governments. Next year is its first meeting and you and Minister Lametti need to start now to make sure it succeeds.

• Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault, good luck in Glasgow. There and beyond, it needs now be all out for climate action, commitments, plans, leadership, courage and funding.

• And to the Prime Minister and all Ministers who have any responsibilities around vaccine procurement, funding, distribution or eventual production, make global, equitable vaccine access Canada's mantra.