His role as Government House Leader will be to shepherd such government initiatives as improvements to health care, daycare and financial support for cities through the House of Commons.
He'll talk and meet regularly with his counterparts in the opposition parties to keep the business of the Commons moving along.
It's an important job in any parliament, but, with Martin and the Liberals in a minority situation, it will be crucial.
"In a majority government situation, it seems to me you can dictate more of the agenda," says Nelson Wiseman, an University of Toronto professor who specializes in Canadian politics.
"In a minority government, the government is in a precarious situation."
Wiseman says Valeri will have to strike a balance with the opposition parties over what the government wants to do and what they want to see Canada do. He will be speaking to the prime minister on a regular basis and talk to the other parties about the conduct of bills and debate. He'll have to employ the art of wheeling and dealing to get some of the opposition onside.
Source.
