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, CBC News has learned.
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.”
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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.