TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) on Monday supported Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Cabinet shuffle, saying it was “excited” to continue its work with federal Ministers and government to support Canada's global leadership in exploration and mining.

"The new Cabinet signals the Prime Minister's continued support for the exploration and mining industry. It also opens doors for new work by the industry to create jobs and economic development for the prosperity of Canadians," PDAC executive director Ross Gallinger said.

The PDAC said exploration and mining was an important driver of economic activity in Canada, employing 320 000 Canadians in mineral extraction, processing and manufacturing and generating thousands of high-skilled, high-paying jobs across the country, while contributing more than $35-billion to the gross domestic product.

The association, which is a strong national advocate for Canadian exploration and development issues, added that it had established various initiatives in collaboration with the federal government, and wanted to foster stronger ties with stakeholders.

The PDAC said the latest example of this collaboration was the ‘made-in-Canada’ solution to the challenge of ensuring transparency in the resources sector. Harper last month announced his government's commitment to establishing greater transparency during the yearly Group of Eight summit, in Northern Ireland.

The Resource Revenue Transparency Working Group, which included the PDAC, the Mining Association of Canada, Publish What You Pay-Canada and the Revenue Watch Institute, had recently developed recommendations for a solution for revenue transparency in the exploration and mining industry.

Harper on Monday said changes to his Cabinet featured both younger Members of Parliament (MPs) ready for new opportunities, and "steady hands" that would continue to deliver strong leadership in key portfolios. “In particular, I am proud to welcome four new strong and capable women to the Cabinet table,” he said in a statement.

Among the new women Cabinet Ministers are Ontario MP Kellie Leitch, who is Labour Minister and Manitoba MP Shelly Glover, who is Heritage Minister. Alberta MP Michelle Rempel is State Minister for Western Diversification and Manitoba MP Candice Bergen is State Minister for Social Development.

Harper kept Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and Treasury Board President Tony Clement in their key portfolios, while several existing Cabinet members changed posts – Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Justice Minister Rob Nicholson swapped jobs.

Former Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq is now Environment Minister, while the former Labour Minister, Lisa Raitt, was tasked with the Transport portfolio. Rona Ambrose takes over at the Health Ministry from Aglukkaq.

Harper also appointed Diane Finley Public Works Minister and former Francophonie Minister Steven Blaney Public Safety Minister. Kerry-Lynne Findlay is now Minister of National Revenue and Jason Kenney takes on the new portfolio of Employment and Social Development, which replaces the Ministry  of Human Resources and Skills Development.