Stephen Fuhr, right, (Secretary of State Defence Procurement) and John Zerucelli, left,  (Secretary of State Labour) arrive for a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

By Vernon Matters Staff

big responsibilities

Kelowna MP Fuhr gets big defence job in new Carney government

May 13, 2025 | 2:32 PM

There has been swift reward for Stephen Fuhr, the recently elected Liberal MP for Kelowna.

The former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot was named Secretary of State for Defence Procurement in the new Mark Carney government Tuesday.

Fuhr will work under Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, Joel Lightbound, and will be responsible for the purchasing of military equipment.

The Ministry of Defence has a budget of over $8 billion for the five-year period from 2024.

In a social media post Fuhr said he was deeply honoured by the appointment and committed to the nation’s security.

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“I remain firmly motivated to ensure that our armed forces have the tools they need to protect Canadians, and that this work is done with transparency, efficiency, and strategic foresight,” he posted, in part.