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Orléans MP – and former head of the Canadian army – Andrew Leslie has been named chief government whip by the prime minister.

“I have every confidence in the remarkable abilities of retired Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement released Friday morning. “He will ensure that our members in Parliament are in the right places at the right time, and ensure that we remain focused on implementing our plan for a positive, ambitious, open, and transparent government.”

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A party whip is something of a disciplinarian, ensuring that enough party members show up for debates and votes, not to mention makes sure those members are voting along party lines. As well, a whip decides who will sit on what committees, assigns offices and seats in the House of Commons.

The Liberal platform says MPs will only be required to toe the party line in votes on campaign promises, traditional matters of confidence such as the budget and on questions of values and charter rights.

Leslie is a retired general first elected in the suburban Ottawa riding last month.

He was a high-profile candidate and many expected him to land a cabinet post, but he was left off the ministerial list.

The whip’s job pays $28,420 on top of the regular MP salary of just under $158,000.

With files from the Canadian Press