Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reshuffling his cabinet this morning. He is expected to make several changes to the cabinet list in a bid to bring some stability to a turbulent period for the Liberal government, which is in turmoil.
The major reshuffle follows Chrystia Freeland’s shock resignation and comes as several ministers have resigned from their cabinet positions or declared they will not seek re-election in recent months. Other outstanding vacancies will also be addressed.
The ceremony at Rideau Hall is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. ET, and will be Trudeau’s first public appearance since renewed calls for his resignation.
In today’s reshuffle, several Liberal Party backbenchers are expected to be promoted to cabinet positions.
Ontario MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith is set to become Canada’s next housing minister, replacing Sean Fraser, who announced on Monday that he would not run again, according to people familiar with the matter.
And it will be an Ontario MP who will take over the public safety portfolio from Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who took over the top economic post on Monday following Freeland’s resignation. Mr. David is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Information (NSICOP). McGuinty.
Other Liberal members joining the cabinet are Quebec MP Rachel Bendayan, Nova Scotia MP Darren Fisher and Manitoba MP Terry Duguide, sources told CTV News.
Officials say Prime Minister Trudeau is prepared to change his entourage, but this should not be interpreted as the prime minister ready to declare next steps, and whether Trudeau will take questions after the shuffle remains to be seen. I don’t know yet.
Prime Minister Trudeau also convened a cabinet meeting at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Asked Thursday if Trudeau had the full support of his cabinet to remain prime minister, LeBlanc said “yes.”
LeBlanc is one of the cabinet ministers who said Trudeau told them he would stay in office until the next election, throwing a damper on the chatter surrounding Mark Carney, who is about to make his federal political debut.
Anita Anand currently holds the dual responsibilities of Finance Board President and Transport Minister and is unlikely to retain both portfolios.
Similarly, Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor was told last month that her employment, workforce development and official language title was temporary.
Other ministers expected to be removed from the cabinet after announcing they will not run include Marie-Claude Bibeau, Carla Qualtroff, Philomena Tassi and Dan Vandal.
Their expected departures mean the national revenue, sport and northern affairs portfolios will also be up for grabs, along with a range of regional economic development ministries.
Prime Minister Trudeau has sought to maintain gender equality and achieve the best possible balance of regional representation throughout the transition, but there are fewer notable backbench MPs in Western and Atlantic Canada. Adhering to these principles may be more difficult this time around.
