Trudeau takes helm with gender equality in Cabinet

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was due to name an equal number of men and women to a slimmed-down Cabinet after being sworn in as Canada's 23rd prime minister on Wednesday.

Trudeau, 43, the first son of a prime minister to take office in Canada and the second-youngest in the country's history, has grabbed international attention for his good looks and crowd-loving approach to politics.

His swearing-in ceremony was to end a decade of Conservative rule under Stephen Harper, whose party takes up the role of opposition as it searches for a new leader.