Seven of 13 ministerial portfolios in a new coalition government led by current Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis have been decided upon, but for the rest Latvia will have to wait to hear Nov. 1.

The centrist Vienotība (Unity) bloc announced Oct. 28 who from its ranks would head up seven key ministries, but its coalition partner, the conservative Zaļo un Zemnieku savienība (Union of Greens and Farmers, or ZZS), has yet to firm up its choices for the six ministerial chairs it will get to fill.

After weeks of negotiations following the Oct. 2 election that at one point promised a four-party coalition government—including the center-left and pro-Russian Saskaņas Centrs (Harmony Centre) and a nationalist bloc led by the ultraconservative Visu Latvijai! (All for Latvia!)—just Vienotība and ZZS were left at the table. Together they will control 55 seats in the 100-deputy Saeima.

While Vienotība plans to keep two current ministers—Economics Minister Artis Kampars and Interior Minister Linda Mūrniece—the other five portfolios would see a shake-up.

The new finance minister would be Andris Vilks, who has served as financial and economics adviser to Dombrovksis. He would replace current Finance Miniser Einars Repše, the former Bank of Latvia president and founder of the Jaunais Laiks (New Era) party.

The new foreign minister would be Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis, chair of the Vienotība bloc and of Pilsoniskā savienība (Civic Union), one of the three parties that make up the bloc. Kristovskis previously served as both defense and interior minister. He would replace current Foreign Minister Aivis Ronis.

In a move some critics see as surprising, current Defense Minister Imants Lieģis is to be replaced by Artis Pabriks, a former foreign minister and a leader of the Sabiedrība citai politikai (Society for a Different Politics, or SCP) movement, which also is a member of the Vienotība coalition. Lieģis is one of only a few diaspora Latvians to have risen to high government posts.

The new culture minister is to be Sarmīte Ēlerte, who until 2008 was editor of the then-leading national daily newspaper, Diena. After leaving the newspaper, she became involved in politics with the Meierovica biedrība (Meierovics Society). Ēlerte would replace current Culture Minister Ints Dālderis.

The new justice minister would be Aigars Štokenbergs, chair of SCP. He previously has served as economics minister and as head of the Ministry for Regional Development and Local Government Affairs. Under the current Dombrovskis administration, the justice minister’s chair has been filled by Lieģis after former Justice Minister Mareks Segliņš quit the Dombrovskis government along with other members of Tautas partija (People’s Party).

ZZS announced that its board of directors is to meet Nov. 1, after which officials would reveal the party’s choices to lead the ministries of education and science, welfare, communication, health, environment, and agriculture. ZZS officials have already said current Environment Minister Raimonds Vējonis would continue in his post.

The new government would have one ministry less than the current government. Vienotība and ZZS have agreed to eliminate the Ministry for Regional Development and Local Government Affairs, moving its functions to the Ministry of the Environment.

President Valdis Zatlers has yet to formally invite Dombrovskis to form the new government, but that is likely to happen soon. The new Saeima, which will have to confirm the government, meets for the first time on Nov. 2.

The number of persons from Latvia earning permanent resident status in Canada increased in 2009, but remains significantly lower than the figure recorded a decade ago, according to government statistics.

A total of 86 persons from Latvia became permanent residents of Canada last year, up from 66 in 2008, according to data compiled by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and released in September.

Under Canadian law, permanent residents must live in the country for at least two years within a five-year period. Otherwise, they risk losing their status. While permanent residents share many of the same rights as Canadian citizens, they may not vote in elections.

Ten years ago, 230 persons from Latvia became permanent residents, increasing to 286 in 2001.

The number steadily declined through 2006, when just 73 new permanent residents were recorded. However, the number jumped to 113 in 2007.

In the past decade, a total of 1,491 persons from Latvia have become permanent residents of Canada, according to the data. That is more than from Lithuania, which contributed 1,355 new permanent residents during the same period, or Estonia, with contributed just 403.

Last year, more than 250,000 persons from around the world became new permanent residents of Canada. China, the Philippines and India are the top three source countries, according to the data.