Ottawa: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to announce a significant cabinet shuffle on Friday, aimed at rejuvenating his leadership team following growing dissent within the Liberal Party and calls for his resignation. This reshuffle comes after the unexpected resignation of Chrystia Freeland as finance minister earlier this week, which has intensified scrutiny of Trudeau’s leadership.
The shuffle is expected to bring new faces into key positions, with Montreal MP Rachel Bendayan, Winnipeg MP Terry Duguid, Toronto MP Nate Erskine-Smith, Ottawa MP David McGuinty, and Nova Scotia MP Darren Fisher all likely to join the cabinet in a ceremony at Rideau Hall. This move is seen as an attempt by Trudeau to address the mounting criticism from within his own caucus and replace ministers who have announced they will not seek re-election.
Resignations and Replacements
Freeland’s resignation, announced on Monday, shocked the government and led to frustration among Liberal MPs, many of whom have expressed concerns over Trudeau’s handling of internal party issues. Trudeau had already planned to reshuffle his cabinet to replace five ministers who confirmed they would not run in the next federal election.
Key ministers like Sean Fraser (Housing), Carla Qualtrough (Sport), Marie-Claude Bibeau (National Revenue), Dan Vandal (Northern Affairs), and Filomena Tassi (Economic Development for Southern Ontario) are all critical players in shaping policies within their respective portfolios.
Trudeau is also expected to address gaps left by ministers juggling multiple roles, such as Anita Anand, who has been overseeing both the Treasury Board and transport ministry since Pablo Rodriguez stepped down, and Ginette Petitpas Taylor, who added employment responsibilities to her portfolio as minister of official languages.
Leadership Challenges
The cabinet reshuffle is taking place amidst increasing calls for Trudeau’s resignation. Reports suggest that as many as 40 to 50 Liberal MPs, including five cabinet members, have voiced support for a change in leadership. New Brunswick MP Wayne Long and Toronto MP Rob Oliphant have both publicly urged Trudeau to reconsider his position, with Oliphant even organizing a meeting with his riding association to discuss the party’s future direction.
Despite this growing dissent, Dominic LeBlanc, the newly appointed finance minister, expressed confidence in Trudeau’s leadership, stating that the prime minister has the full support of his cabinet. He assured the public that Trudeau is carefully considering the concerns raised by members of his caucus.
New Cabinet Members
Among the new appointees, David McGuinty, the longest-serving MP of the group, will make his cabinet debut after representing Ottawa South since 2004. He has chaired the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians since 2017. Darren Fisher, MP for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, is also expected to join the cabinet, having previously served on the same committee.
Rachel Bendayan, who was 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, an MP from Toronto, has reversed his decision to step back from federal politics and will now join the cabinet.
Broader Implications
Trudeau’s government is facing significant challenges, including managing inflation, high living costs, and internal party divisions. The Liberal Party’s reliance on the New Democratic Party (NDP) for legislative support has also weakened, with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh calling for Trudeau’s resignation. There are concerns that a “no confidence” vote in Parliament could lead to an election, potentially benefiting the opposition Conservatives.
Some MPs are calling for Trudeau to take time to reflect on his leadership, while others remain skeptical about his ability to lead the party into the next election. Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson suggested that “we all need to give him a little time to reflect” as the party considers its options.
Future Prospects
Trudeau’s efforts to recruit Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, to his cabinet have been unsuccessful. Carney, who has been widely speculated to have political ambitions, remains outside the reshuffle.
As Trudeau approaches nearly a decade in power, his leadership is under intense scrutiny. The upcoming cabinet shuffle is seen as a pivotal moment for Trudeau, offering him a chance to stabilize his government and address the internal divisions threatening to undermine his authority.
