Friday, 20 December 2024

Prime Minister Trudeau adds 8 new MPs to cabinet, changes the roles of 4 others

 

Prime Minister Trudeau adds 8 new MPs to cabinet, changes the roles of 4 others

'We are all here today because we absolutely support the prime minister,' said Transport Minister Anita Anand

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will announce eight new cabinet ministers Friday and change the roles of four others in a cabinet shuffle designed to ensure the government can function properly.

The shuffle comes days after former deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned suddenly, spurring an emboldened movement within the Liberal caucus to push Trudeau out of the leadership. 

One senior government source told CBC News the timing and size of the shuffle should not be taken as a signal that the prime minister has made up his mind about his future, adding Trudeau is still "reflecting" on his position.

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has posted an open letter to Canadians on social media saying his party will bring forward a motion of non-confidence to bring down the Trudeau government in the next sitting of the House of Commons.

"The Liberals don't deserve another chance," Singh wrote in a letter on Friday. "That's why the NDP will vote to bring this government down."

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre said he will write to Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to ask her to recall Parliament so MPs can hold a confidence vote in the House of Commons.

Poilievre said that since Singh has now joined Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet in expressing a lack of confidence in the prime minister, Canadians need an election.

"What is clear is that Justin Trudeau does not have the confidence of Parliament," he said.

Trudeau spoke to reporters following a cabinet meeting on Friday afternoon. He said the meeting was entirely focused on Canada-U.S. relations in the wake of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's recent tariff threats.

"We know how important it is that we be there, not just to protect the Canadian economy, but their jobs … we have a lot of work to do and that's what we're focused on," he said. He didn't take any questions.

Current ministers changing jobs

  • Anita Anand remains minister of transport, but adds the internal trade portfolio.
  • Gary Anandasangaree remains minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and northern affairs, and becomes minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
  • Steven MacKinnon becomes minister of employment, workforce development and labour.
  • Ginette Petitpas Taylor becomes president of the Treasury Board.

As ministers emerged from Rideau Hall after being sworn in, they presented a united front, insisting they want to serve the country for as long as possible despite the peril their government faces.

Anand said it's important for Liberal MPs to stand together to ensure Canada is prepared for what comes when U.S. president-elect Donald Trump is sworn in next month. 

"We need to work together for the domestic economy and for our trade relationship with the United States," Anand said Friday. "If we don't all band in the same direction, the results are not going to be as strong as they otherwise would."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon take part in a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec.20, 2024. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary Simon take part in a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec.20, 2024. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

Petitpas Taylor said she can't speak for MPs who have asked Trudeau to step down but her support for Trudeau remains firm.

"I'm simply going to say that we are all here today because we absolutely support the prime minister," she said. "We are a united front and we are truly looking forward to working for Canadians." 

MacKinnon said the shuffle has infused the cabinet with "new energy, obviously, coupled with experience and competence." He said he's not concerned about Singh's promise to bring down the government. 

WATCH | MacKinnon defends Trudeau's public silence:
 

Minister MacKinnon defends Trudeau’s public silence

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not taken media questions since Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet Monday and did not appear with the newly sworn-in members of his cabinet when they answered questions following Friday's ceremony. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said Trudeau has ‘of course been working all week’ on the government’s priorities.

"Obviously we have confidence in the prime minister and the government, otherwise we would not be here," he said. 

"Other opposition parties are free to vote as they will, but we will be continuing to offer solutions for Canadians right up to our last day."

WATCH | 

New ministers joining cabinet:

  • Rachel Bendayan: Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety

Bendayan was first elected to the House of Commons in a 2019 federal byelelction in the riding of Outremont following the resignation of former NDP leader Tom Mulcair. Before being elevated to her cabinet post she served as Freeland's parliamentary secretary. 

  • Élisabeth Brière: Minister of National Revenue 

Brière was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2019 federal election for the Quebec riding of Sherbrooke. She previously served as the parliamentary secretary to Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jenna Sudds  and to the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Ya'ara Saks. 

  • Terry Duguid: Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada

Duguid was first elected to the House of Commons in the 2015 federal election in the Manitoba riding of Winnipeg South. Before taking on his new role, Duguid served as Trudeau's parliamentary secretary. 

Minister of National Revenue Elisabeth Briere is sworn in by Clerk of the Privy Council John Hannaford during a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec.20, 2024. Minister of National Revenue Elisabeth Briere is sworn in by Clerk of the Privy Council John Hannaford during a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec.20, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

  • Nathaniel Erskine-Smith: Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Erskine-Smith was first elected to the House of Commons for the Toronto riding of Beaches—East York in the 2015 federal election. Erskine-Smith has a reputation for being an outspoken and contrarian MP who is unafraid to take a stand on issues that may fall out of line with his government. Erskine-Smith has sat on multiple committees including Public Accounts, Industry and Technology and Canada—China relations. 

WATCH | Erskine-Smith will seek re-election after becoming new housing minister:
 

Erskine-Smith will seek re-election after becoming new housing minister

Newly sworn-in Housing Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith says he plans to run in the next election even though he said previously he would not. Erksine-Smith said he wants to ‘protect the progress’ and make a difference in the short term.

Erskine—Smith previously said he was not going to run in the next federal election but on Friday said that he would run again and accepted the cabinet post to make a difference on the housing file.

"Housing is to me, outside of Canada-U.S. relations, the most important file," he said. 

"I plan to run in the next election in order to protect the progress and really in the short term make the biggest difference that I can."

Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Fisher chats with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec.20, 2024. Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Fisher chats with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Friday, Dec.20, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

  • Darren Fisher: Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

Fisher is also a class of 2015 MP, entering the House of Commons to represent the Nova Scotia riding of Dartmouth—Cole Harbour. Fisher previously served as a member of National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, NSICOP. The committee, composed of MPs and senators from various parties, reviews highly classified information and provides advice to government.

Asked why he decided to stand by Trudeau despite a growing number of Liberal MPs demanding that he step down, Fisher said it's time for the party to stand together. 

"We all ran to serve Canadians, and you will never have to ask me twice to serve Canadians," he said. "It's time that we all get on the same track and work hard to solve the issues that are facing us in the near future."

  • David McGuinty: Minister of Public Safety

McGuinty was first elected in the Ontario riding of Ottawa South in the 2004 federal election. McGuinty has been the chair of NSICOP since its inception in November of 2017. McGuinty has also served on multiple parliamentary committees. 

  • Ruby Sahota: Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

Sahota was first elected in the 2015 federal election to represent the Ontario riding of Brampton North. Before joining the cabinet table she served as the chief government whip and sat on multiple committees. 

Sahota said she's focused on getting down to work and that cabinet is united behind the prime minister. 

"The prime minister has all of our full support and he obviously has shown lots of confidence in us and that's why we're here today," she said.

  • Joanne Thompson: Minister of Seniors

Thompson is one of the newest Liberal MPs to join the cabinet having been elected in the 2021 federal election for the Newfoundland and Labrador riding of St John's East. Thompson has been a member of the finance committee as well as the environment and government operations committees. 

CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton and Power & Politics host David Cochrane are anchoring special coverage of the cabinet shuffle. You can watch the coverage live on CBC News Network, CBC.ca/news and CBC Gem.

  • This Sunday, Cross Country Checkup is asking, "Do you still have confidence in the Trudeau government? Where do we go from here?" Fill out this form and you could appear on the show or have your comment read on air.
 
 
Table with 3 columns and 14 rows.

Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

Dan Vandal¹

Gary Anandasangaree
Remains Minister of now-called Crown-Indigenous Relatiuons and Northern Affairs
President of the Treasury Board

Anita Anand

Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Official Languages
Previously part of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages

Ginette Petitpas Taylor

Rachel Bendayan
Minister of National Revenue

Marie-Claude Bibeau¹

Élisabeth Brière
Minister of Sport

Carla Qualtrough¹

Terry Duguid
Minister responsible for Prairie Economic Development Canada

Dan Vandal¹

Terry Duguid
Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Sean Fraser¹

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith
Minister of Veterans Affairs

Ginette Petitpas Taylor

Darren Fisher
Minister of Public Safety

Dominic LeBlanc

David J. McGuinty
Minister of Democratic Institutions

Dominic LeBlanc

Ruby Sahota
Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Filomena Tassi¹

Ruby Sahota
Minister of Seniors
Previously part of Labour and Seniors

Steven MacKinnon

Joanne Thompson
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
Previously part of Employment, Workforce Development, and Languages

Ginette Petitpas Taylor

Steven MacKinnon
Remains in charge of Labour, previously its own portfolio
Minister of Internal Trade
New portfolio


Anita Anand
Remains Minister of Transport
 
 
 
 

Chrystia Freeland pegged by some Liberal MPs as Justin Trudeau's successor if he resigns

As PM mulls future, some MPs say they want his former finance minister to step in

Calls are growing from within the Liberal caucus for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down as party leader — and some have pegged Chrystia Freeland as their choice to replace him.

Twenty-one Liberal MPs have publicly urged Trudeau to resign — many of them within the last week — after Freeland shocked Canadians on Monday by resigning as deputy prime minister and finance minister hours before she was supposed to table the government's fall economic statement.

Among the Liberal MPs publicly calling on Trudeau to step down, a small number have come forward to throw their support behind Freeland.

"By design or by circumstance, her time of resignation has put her into the spotlight. And she appears to be the person around whom the caucus members can rally behind," Ontario Liberal MP Chandra Arya told CBC's Power & Politics on Friday.

Arya, previously a staunch supporter of Trudeau, became one of the latest dissenters of the prime minister with a letter he penned on Friday.

WATCH | 21 Liberal MPs want their leader to step down:
 

21 Liberal MPs now call on Trudeau to resign | Power & Politics

Since the sudden resignation of former deputy prime minister and finance minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday, 21 Liberal MPs have called for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign. Power & Politics speaks to four MPs who have joined these calls.

He said his previous support stemmed from the lack of a "viable and reassuring alternative" but that Freeland has now filled that void.

B.C. Liberal MP Ken Hardie pointed to Freeland's track record in cabinet, especially in dealing with the United States.

"Ms. Freeland, particularly because of the skill with which she dealt with Donald Trump in Trump 1.0, is clearly the one that I would choose to take the fight back to him again. She's smart. She knows the drill with him," Hardie told Power & Politics host David Cochrane on Wednesday.

'No shortage' of contenders

Freeland's name isn't the only one floating around as a possible Trudeau replacement, should the prime minister choose to step down.

Political pundits have also been discussing the merits of newly appointed Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and former housing minister Sean Fraser before he stepped down from that position just prior to Freeland's resignation.

"I was really sad to see Sean Fraser go, because he would have been at or near the top of my list," Prince Edward Island Liberal MP Sean Casey told reporters on Tuesday.

He said, however, that there's "no shortage" of people who could take on the role of Liberal Party leader "without the baggage of the prime minister."

When asked if he would like to see Freeland launch a leadership bid, Casey said, "Yes."

Most of the 21 MPs publicly asking Trudeau to go have not endorsed a specific candidate to replace him.

WATCH | Trudeau shuffles his cabinet during a crisis, but will it help?:
 

Can a cabinet shuffle save Trudeau?

Liberal MPs Rob Oliphant, Ali Ehsassi and Chandra Arya discuss why they're making their first public calls for Justin Trudeau's resignation on the same day as a cabinet shuffle. Employment Minister Steven MacKinnon explains why he accepted a new file from a prime minister under fire. Plus, the Power Panel debates NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's announcement that his party will put forward a non-confidence motion at the next opportunity.

Rob Oliphant, an Ontario Liberal MP and parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign affairs, said he's worked in that role for a number of cabinet ministers who he believes would fare well in the role of leader.

But he noted that Trudeau is still taking time to reflect on his position.

"I will give him a break and say please take the time, be thoughtful.... I won't put a timeline on that for him. That's up to him," he told Power & Politics on Friday. "He's still my leader, he's my friend, he's our prime minister. And I want him to take the time to do that and leave graciously."

Freeland leadership bid speculation

While the prime minister reflects, nobody has publicly expressed an interest in taking over his role.

On Tuesday, Freeland wrote a letter to her supporters thanking them. She ended the letter with a message — "this will not be the end of the road" — that ramped up speculation about her own leadership ambitions.

That same evening, she attended the Liberal caucus holiday party. While Trudeau gave a speech addressing the growing rift in the party, Freeland stole the show.

Soon after his speech, Trudeau stood for photos with party members. To the right of the room, a line also started forming for photos with Freeland. When Trudeau's time for photos ended, the line for photos with Freeland was still going strong.

A biography of Freeland was then released on Friday. The book was originally set to publish in February, but author Catherine Tsalikis said the events of the past week changed the timeline.

In it, Tsalikis referred to Freeland as Trudeau's "most obvious successor."

WATCH | Author of biography on Freeland says loyalty important to Liberal MP:
 

Freeland puts a ‘real premium on loyalty,’ says biographer | Power & Politics

Catherine Tsalikis, author of the new book Chrystia, a biography of Chrystia Freeland, discusses her reaction to Freeland’s resignation earlier this week. Tsalikis says she spoke to Freeland’s sister who told her that ‘loyalty is one of her institutional strengths.’

When the biography was announced, the Globe and Mail speculated that it could be tied to a leadership run.

Tsalikis told Power & Politics guest host John Paul Tasker that the speculation "amuses" her. She also said that while Freeland declined to co-operate with her on the biography, she was able to speak to many people close to the politician.

Liberals polling low

With no word on whether Trudeau will resign and no official potential successors, there isn't much data on how well Freeland — or anyone else — would fare in the eyes of voters.

Pollster Éric Grenier said the last numbers he saw on contenders were gathered earlier in the fall, and no contender yielded much of a bump in the polls for the Liberal Party.

  • This Sunday, Cross Country Checkup is asking, "Do you have confidence in the Trudeau government? Where do we go from here?" Fill out this form and you could appear on the show or have your comment read on air.

Grenier said Freeland was seen as a "replacement, a substitute" for Trudeau at that time, but he would be interested in seeing where the numbers now stand.

"With the kind of numbers we are seeing right now, it would be hard for the Liberals to start doing worse," he told Power & Politics on Friday.

The Conservatives currently hold a 21-point lead over the Liberals.

A new leader might give a little bit of a bump to the reigning Liberals, but as polls now stand, it probably won't be enough to keep them in power, Grenier said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Racy Rafique is an associate producer for CBC's national television program Power & Politics. You can reach her at reathia.rafique@cbc.ca

With files from Kate McKenna

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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