OTTAWA (REUTERS) - Liberal leader Justin Trudeau will kick off his majority government with some controversy as he is sworn in as Canada's 23rd prime minister on Wednesday (Nov 4) by naming an equal number of men and women to a smaller Cabinet.
Mr Trudeau, the first son of a prime minister to take office in Canada and the second-youngest in the country's history at 43, has grabbed international attention for his good looks and crowd-loving approach to politics.
His swearing-in ceremony will end a decade of Conservative rule under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whose party takes up the role of opposition as they search for a new leader.
During the campaign, a senior Liberal Party member wrote a confidential e-mail later leaked to media saying that the Cabinet would be cut from 39 members and could go as low as 25.
One Liberal source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mr Trudeau's Cabinet will be about 30 members or fewer. The identity of the new Cabinet will be released as Mr Trudeau is sworn in.
Mr Trudeau has said the leadership team will have an equal number of male and female ministers, which would be a first for Canada, though several other countries - notably France - have also attempted gender parity.
Some critics have already questioned the pledge, noting the Liberals have 50 women and 134 men in their caucus.
"The radical, unspeakable alternative to quotas is: just hire the best person for the job. If it's a man, fine; if it's a woman, fine," wrote National Post columnist Andrew Coyne.
Trudeau spokesman Kate Purchase defended the decision, saying: "We have an incredible group of women that won their ridings (parliamentary districts)."
Speculation around possible Cabinet ministers include former army commander Andrew Leslie and former journalist and author Chrystia Freeland. Human resources executive Bill Morneau and former Public Works Minister Scott Brison were seen as leading candidates for finance minister.
Promising a more open and friendly government, the Liberals have invited the public onto the grounds of Rideau Hall to watch Mr Trudeau be sworn in, and erected large screens on site so more people can watch.
Mr Trudeau won a surprise majority offering "sunny ways", with a more positive outlook and a willingness to put the budget back into the red to stimulate Canada's flagging economy.
