OTTAWA: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to announce a significant cabinet shuffle on Friday, adding new faces to his team in the wake of growing dissent within the Liberal Party and calls for his resignation. The move follows a tumultuous week marked by the unexpected resignation of Chrystia Freeland as finance minister, sparking further scrutiny of Trudeau’s leadership.
According to sources, Montreal MP Rachel Bendayan, Winnipeg MP Terry Duguid, Toronto MP Nate Erskine-Smith, Ottawa MP David McGuinty, and Nova Scotia MP Darren Fisher are expected to join the cabinet during a ceremony at Rideau Hall. The shuffle comes as Trudeau seeks to address mounting criticism from his own caucus and replace ministers who have announced they will not seek re-election.
Resignations and Replacements
Freeland’s resignation on Monday shocked the government, triggering anger among Liberal MPs who voiced concerns about Trudeau’s handling of internal issues. Prior to this, Trudeau had already planned to reshuffle his cabinet to replace five ministers who confirmed they would not run in the next federal election.
Here are the names of several key ministers who hold critical roles in the Canadian government: Sean Fraser, the Housing Minister; Carla Qualtrough, the Minister for Sport; Marie-Claude Bibeau, responsible for National Revenue; Dan Vandal, overseeing Northern Affairs; and Filomena Tassi, managing Economic Development for Southern Ontario. Each plays a vital part in shaping policies and driving initiatives within their respective portfolios.
Trudeau is also expected to fill several dual roles currently being managed by existing ministers. For instance, Anita Anand has been juggling responsibilities as Treasury Board president and transport minister since Pablo Rodriguez stepped down to focus on provincial politics in Quebec. Similarly, Ginette Petitpas Taylor has added employment duties to her portfolio as minister of official languages.
Leadership Challenges
The cabinet reshuffle comes amid increasing calls for Trudeau to step down. Reports suggest that as many as 40 to 50 Liberal MPs, including five cabinet members, believe it’s time for a change in leadership. New Brunswick MP Wayne Long and Toronto MP Rob Oliphant are among those urging Trudeau to reconsider his future. Oliphant recently called for an urgent meeting of his riding association to discuss the party’s direction.
Despite the growing dissent, Dominic LeBlanc, the newly appointed finance minister, expressed confidence in Trudeau’s leadership. “The prime minister has the full support of his cabinet,” LeBlanc said during a press conference. He added that Trudeau is listening carefully to concerns raised by caucus members.
New Cabinet Members
David McGuinty, the longest-serving MP among the new appointees, will make his cabinet debut after representing Ottawa South since 2004. He has chaired the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians since its inception in 2017. Darren Fisher, MP for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, has also served on that committee.
Rachel Bendayan, elected in 2019 from Outremont, is set to leave her role as parliamentary secretary to the finance minister. Terry Duguid, a former Winnipeg city councillor, currently co-chairs the national Liberal campaign committee. Nate Erskine-Smith, a Toronto MP who had announced plans to step back from federal politics, appears to have reversed course to join the cabinet.
Broader Implications
Trudeau faces mounting challenges, including managing inflation, addressing high living costs, and navigating strained relations within his party. The Liberal Party’s dependence on the New Democratic Party (NDP) for legislative support has also weakened, with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh urging Trudeau to resign. A potential “no confidence” vote in Parliament could force an election, favoring the opposition Conservatives.
While some MPs advocate giving Trudeau time to reflect, others are skeptical about his ability to lead the party into the next election. Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson remarked, “We all need to give him a little time to reflect.”
Future Prospects
Trudeau’s efforts to recruit Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, to his cabinet have so far been unsuccessful. Carney, long rumored to have political ambitions, remains outside the current cabinet reshuffle.
As Trudeau approaches nearly a decade in power, his leadership remains under intense scrutiny. The upcoming cabinet shuffle is seen as a critical test of his ability to stabilize his government and address internal divisions.