Justice Minister Arif Virani would not say whether he wants Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to remain as leader amid internal tensions among the Liberals following Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet.
Virani was asked repeatedly by reporters on Dec. 19 whether he wants Trudeau to stay on.
“I think it’s really important that decisions will be made in Ottawa by the actors that are involved,” Virani said while making an unrelated announcement in Toronto about Bill C-40.
Virani added that he’s personally reflecting on the task he’s been given by the prime minister regarding his mandate as justice minister and attorney general.
“I have absolute confidence in the prime minister in terms of what he has asked me to do, and that is serve as a minister of justice who defends people’s rights, defends the Constitution, doesn’t throw around willy-nilly ideas about invoking the notwithstanding clause,” he said.
Virani said there were “a lot of discussions about what is going to transpire or not” but said he could not provide “clarity and answers about about people’s futures.”
Other ministers have publicly expressed clear support for Trudeau since internal tensions began to boil over in early summer, starting with the loss of a stronghold Toronto riding to the Tories in a June byelection. This was followed in September by the NDP breaking its deal keeping the minority Liberals in power until June 2025, and the byelection loss of another stronghold riding in Montreal.
Freeland’s resignation as deputy prime minister and finance minister on Dec. 16, however, has sent shockwaves through the Liberal cabinet and the country.
Virani would not clearly state his support for Trudeau’s leadership, but he praised Freeland.
Virani called her an “incredible” colleague and parliamentarian, and said he counts her as a friend.
“I want to just take this opportunity just to salute her distinguished record of serving in so many portfolios in this country, and saluting her contributions to Canada” he said, adding he’s encouraged that she said she will will run in the next election. “I respect Chrystia a great deal,” he added.
Freeland, in her Dec. 16 resignation letter made public on social media, said Trudeau told her on Dec. 13 she would be stripped of the finance portfolio. She was due to deliver the Fall Economic Statement on Dec. 16 before she would be removed from the role. Freeland said she was offered another cabinet position, but said having lost the confidence of the prime minister she could not continue to serve.
Freeland was replaced by Dominic LeBlanc at finance on Dec. 16. LeBlanc, who previously served as public safety minister, kept the intergovernmental affairs portfolio.
The exercise to fill the roles could prove more difficult this time around with a growing number of Liberal MPs saying publicly they want Trudeau to resign.
Speaking to reporters on Dec. 19, LeBlanc was asked what advice he would give to Trudeau on forming the new cabinet.
“That’s the prerogative of the prime minister, he said. ”I may or may not have a conversation if he asks me views on some colleagues. Sometimes he has, sometimes he hasn’t. Those are private conversations.”
