New mandate letters put continued focus on COVID-19 for innovation, small business, economic ministers Newly released ministerial mandate letters released Friday point to a continued focus on supporting businesses throughout the COVID-19 crises for the ministers responsible for Canada’s innovation economy. With the previous mandate letters dating to December 2019, the new mandates for all of Trudeau’s ministers put heavy emphasis on the pandemic. They also follow a shuffle in the prime minister’s cabinet, including newly appointed Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne who stepped into the role as Navdeep Bains announced he would not seek reelection and left his spot in cabinet.