Carr and Mihychuk: Justin Trudeau's Winnipeg cabinet contenders

Seven Winnipeggers could be in Justin Trudeau's cabinet, but two stand the best chance.

• LIVE BLOG |Justin Trudeau and his new cabinet sworn in at Rideau Hall

Winnipeg South Centre's Jim Carr and Kildonan-St.Paul's MaryAnn Mihychuk are rumoured to be cabinet contenders. Justin Trudeau has a tough task to choose from 183 colleagues, including seven of eight city of Winnipeg Liberals.

Mihychuk stands good chance

"It's just wonderful to be here for the new government," said Mihychuk as she arrived in Ottawa, obviously holding her cards close to her chest.

"Well I'm sure he's a very bright man and will see my attributes," she added, cheekily.

Mihychuk is the only one of the Manitoba Liberals elected in 2015 to have cabinet level experience. She was intergovernmental affairs minister in Gary Doer's NDP provincial cabinet.

Political scientist Chris Adams said Mihychuk's experience, narrow electoral victory and gender make her the most likely Winnipegger to get the cabinet appointment.

Mihychuk won the traditionally Conservative Winnipeg riding of Kildonan-St. Paul by just 1,215 votes.

"She's in a swing riding, so [a cabinet appointment] helps shore up that riding's re-election next time around and she would help with his need to have gender balance," Adams said.

Trudeau said he will have a 50/50 split between women and men at his cabinet table. Furthermore, political scientist Chris Adams said prime minister's typically attempt to strike regional balance.

"We can assume that there will be at least one [Manitoban] chosen because of the need to address regional balances in cabinet," he said.

Carr a contender

Carr is also considered a top cabinet contender.

Trudeau thrust Carr into the spotlight at the party's national convention in Montreal in February 2014. Carr served on two panels at the conference.

"They seem comfortable together, they've been in the spotlight once or twice and Jim Carr comes with experience," Adams said.

Jim Carr's experience is mostly from the business world. He was the founding president of the Business Council of Manitoba. He also served as a Manitoba MLA from 1988 to 1991.

Winnipeg Centre Liberal Robert-Falcon Ouellette was also frequently touted as an option for Trudeau's cabinet, but the rookie MP told CBC NewsTuesdayhe wasn't in cabinet.

• Robert-Falcon Ouellette says he's not in cabinet
• Ouellette and Carrexpected to be front runners for cabinet

Former Liberal employment and immigration minister Lloyd Axworthy said it makes sense none of Trudeau's cabinet picks have announced they were selected publicly.

"They're sworn to ultimate secrecy on this whole thing," Axworthy said.

Axworthy's first cabinet appointment came from Justin Trudeau's father, Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau.

"It was fairly easy, because I was the only elected Liberal in Western Canada, so the choice was fairly obvious," he said with a chuckle.

Axworthy anticipated that everyone selected would have been offered the cabinet position last week. He thought Carr and Mihychuk were good cabinet picks, but said it's impossible to speculate.

"I think there's a lot of talent here and it all depends on calculations about how many, one or two, spots there are," he said.