Embattled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shuffled his cabinet in response to internal calls for his resignation, uncertainty regarding ministerial support, and an impending non-confidence vote from the NDP.
A number of MPs received cabinet promotions to fill vacancies and a few ministers’ portfolios were also redistributed. Notably, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith will become the new housing minister, Anita Anand is losing her position as president of the Treasury Board but maintains her position as transport minister and head of internal trade, and David McGuinty will be in charge of public safety.
The biggest cabinet move already came on Dec. 16, with Dominic LeBlanc being appointed finance minister after Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland posted her resignation letter to Trudeau on social media.
Freeland’s departure, which she said was based on Trudeau’s wanting to replace her as finance minister, has sent shockwaves through the Liberal caucus and cabinet. Trudeau asked Freeland to deliver the Fall Economic Statement on Dec. 16 despite having told her she wouldn’t remain in charge of finance.
This has caused a rift in the Liberal caucus, with mixed messages on Dec. 19 from senior ministers on whether Trudeau has full cabinet support to stay on as leader.
Singh, who had previously supported the minority Liberals in a supply-and-confidence agreement, said in a press release that the Liberals had “failed” Canadians, and that the party “don’t deserve another chance.”
Whereas LeBlanc said Trudeau has his “full support,” Justice Minister Arif Virani would not say where he stands on the issue after being repeatedly pressed by reporters.
“I think it’s really important that decisions will be made in Ottawa by the actors that are involved,” he said, while also praising Freeland.
Freeland also served as deputy prime minister, but that role was not filled in today’s shuffle.
Anand Out as Treasury Board President
Anita Anand, a close ally of Freeland, will be given the role of internal trade in addition to maintaining the transport portfolio. Anand previously served as president of the Treasury Board, the position overseeing the entire public service, and was given the transport portfolio after Pablo Rodriguez left the Liberal cabinet and caucus.
Anand was previously at defence and was moved to the Treasury Board during the shuffle in July 2023. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, who was serving as both veterans affairs minister and employment minister, will be elevated to president of the Treasury Board. She is being replaced at veterans affairs by Nova Scotia MP Darren Fisher.
In a sizeable promotion, David McGuinty, who has been representing the Ottawa South riding in Parliament since 2004, will replace LeBlanc at public safety.
McGuinty has never served in cabinet nor held a parliamentary secretary role, but has been the chair of the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) since 2017. The national security watchdog conducted most of its work without fanfare over the years, making its biggest waves by criticizing the government for a lack of engagement.
This changed in June when NSICOP released a report saying some unnamed parliamentarians have been “wittingly” colluding with foreign states.
McGuinty will take over a department overseeing multiple security agencies including the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Canada Border Services Agency, and the RCMP.
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Named Housing Minister
Another major promotion is Nathaniel Erskine-Smith becoming housing minister to replace Sean Fraser, who resigned from cabinet the same day as Freeland. Erskine-Smith is a three-term MP for the Toronto riding of Beaches-East York. He is known for speaking candidly and has not openly supported Trudeau’s leadership.
After the tense Liberal caucus meeting on Oct. 23, when some MPs told Trudeau he had to go, Erskine-Smith said his message to caucus was that Trudeau has to listen to the “really valid frustrations” from members and make some changes.
“It’s up to the prime minister to reflect on everything he’s heard and to come back to caucus, not only with a plan, but also to express to caucus how have my colleagues been listened to,” said Erskine-Smith. MPs had given a few days for Trudeau to reflect on his future and come back, but within a few hours he said he was staying on as leader.
Two Quebec MPs will be given a promotion in the new cabinet. Rachel Bendayan will become the official languages minister and associate minister of public safety. Trudeau’s Quebec lieutenant and Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez resigned over the summer to run in the Quebec Liberal Party leadership race.
Bendayan, a lawyer by profession, has represented the Outremont riding in Montreal since 2019 and has occupied various parliamentary secretary roles since being elected to the House of Commons. Her latest role was parliamentary secretary to Freeland in her capacity as deputy prime minister and finance minister.
New MPs Join Cabinet
Steven Mackinnon will keep his job as labour minister, but also be given the role of employment and workforce development from Randy Boissonnault. Boissonnault resigned to focus on clearing his name because a company he co-owned is currently embroiled in allegations of improper business conduct.
Terry Duguid, promoted to minister of sport and minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, has also held multiple parliamentary secretary roles since first being elected in 2015. The MP for Winnipeg South’s latest position was parliamentary secretary to the prime minister and special advisor for water.
His latest role was as a member of NSICOP, the security watchdog committee composed of a small group of MPs and senators from all stripes. Fisher has also served in various parliamentary secretary roles since being elected in 2015.
Gary Anandasangaree will maintain his role as minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, while also being given the northern affairs and Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency positions from Dan Vandal, who announced in October he wasn’t running again.
