“Trudeau overhauls his cabinet, drops 7 ministers and shuffling portfolios”

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives for a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa after dropping ministers and shuffling portfolios on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)

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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today dropped seven ministers and named new ministers of defence and public safety — an almost complete overhaul of his cabinet at a time of heightened tensions overseas and scandals at home.

Trudeau unveiled a new cabinet team with a renewed focus on economic priorities, such as housing, during a ceremony at Rideau Hall. This shuffling portfolios promotes seven new faces and tasks more than a dozen ministers with new roles.

Reporters asked the prime minister repeatedly whether the shakeup amounts to an admission that his nearly eight-year-old government is slumping.

“On the contrary,” he said.

“This is a difficult time right now for millions of people in Canada and around the world, and making sure that we have the best possible team aligned to respond to Canadians’ challenges with the supports necessary, but also show that optimism, that ambition for getting us through these consequential times and building a brighter future for everyone —that’s what we’re focused on.”

Toronto-area MP Bill Blair takes over the defence portfolio from Anita Anand, who becomes president of the Treasury Board.

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Bill Blair arrives for a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Wednesday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

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Blair, a former police chief who was most recently the minister of emergency preparedness, becomes the country’s point person at NATO and will be responsible for Canada’s response to the war in Ukraine.

The Canadian Armed Forces is also reeling from a sexual misconduct scandal; Blair is now responsible for overseeing the military’s attempt to change its culture.

New Brunswick’s Dominic LeBlanc will now lead public safety, an often-challenging portfolio that includes the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the RCMP. He also takes on the democratic institutions file and will continue to serve as intergovernmental affairs minister.

LeBlanc, who represents Beauséjour, will play a key role in determining how the government responds to allegations that China interfered in the past two federal elections, and to the damning report on the Mounties’ handling of the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia. He’ll also have to stickhandle negotiations with the provinces about the future of RCMP contract policing.

His predecessor, Marco Mendicino, was dropped from cabinet. His demotion ends a tenure at the cabinet table plagued by multiple controversies, including the government’s poorly received gun control legislation and lingering questions on the foreign interference file.

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Dominic LeBlanc arrives for a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Wednesday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

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More recently, Mendicino was under intense pressure due to the controversy over the transfer of serial killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison.

7 fresh faces called up

Seven new MPs received a promotion to cabinet:

  • Toronto MP Arif Virani, who represents Parkdale—High Park, becomes minister of justice and attorney general of Canada
  • Quebec MP Soraya Martinez Ferrada, who represents the riding of Hochelaga, becomes the minister of tourism and minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec Regions.
  • Gary Anandasangaree, who represents Scarborough—Rouge Park, becomes minister of Crown-Indigenous relations
  • B.C. MP Terry Beech of Burnaby North—Seymour becomes minister of citizens’ services 
  • Toronto-area MP Ya’ara Saks, who represents York Centre, becomes minister of mental health and addictions and associate minister of health
  • Ottawa-area MP Jenna Sudds, who represents, Kanata—Carleton, becomes minister of families, children and social development 
  • Mississauga—Streetsville MP Rechie Valdez becomes minister of small business

Wednesday’s shuffling portfolios also saw several current ministers change positions or add to their portfolios:

  • Pablo Rodriguez becomes transport minister
  • Pascale St-Onge becomes minister of Canadian heritage
  • Mark Holland becomes minister of health
  • Sean Fraser becomes minister of housing, infrastructure and communities
  • Lawrence MacAulay becomes minister of agriculture
  • Jean-Yves Duclos becomes minister of public services and procurement
  • Marie-Claude Bibeau becomes minister of national revenue
  • Gudie Hutchings remains minister of rural economic development but now takes on responsibility for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
  • Diane Lebouthillier becomes minister of fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
  • Harjit Sajjan becomes president of the King’s Privy Council and minister of emergency preparedness, and  keeps his role as minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada
  • Carla Qualtrough becomes minister of sport and physical activity
  • Karina Gould becomes government House leader
  • Ahmed Hussen becomes minister of international development
  • Seamus O’Regan stays on as minister of labour and adds the seniors portfolio
  • Ginette Petitpas Taylor becomes minister of veterans affairs
  • Mary Ng remains minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development but drops small business from her files
  • Jonathan Wilkinson stays put but his portfolio is being renamed “energy and natural resources”
  • Marc Miller becomes minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship
  • Randy Boissonnault becomes minister of employment workforce development and official languages
  •  Kamal Khera becomes minister of diversity, inclusion and persons with disabilities.

Freeland, Joly staying put

Just eight ministers kept their portfolios:

  • Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland 

  • Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly 

  • Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault

  • Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne

    • Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, also minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario

    • Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Filomena Tassi 

    • Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, also minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

    • Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth Marci Ien 

    Gould recently announced she is expecting her second child in the new year. Trudeau announced Wednesday that Government Whip Steve MacKinnon will serve as House leader in her absence and Ruby Sahota will fill in as whip. 

Four of the seven ministers who were dropped announced earlier this week that they would not be running again:

  • Former public services and procurement minister Helena Jaczek
  • Former transport minister Omar Alghabra
  • Former mental health and addictions minister Carolyn Bennett
  • Former fisheries minister Joyce Murray

Trudeau did not answer when reporters asked why Mendicino, former justice minister David Lametti and former president of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier were axed.

The prime minister said he was putting forward “the strongest possible team with fresh energy and a range of skills.”

“I want to thank everyone who has served this country and this cabinet so well over the past number of years,” he said.

Lametti released a statement Wednesday congratulating his former parliamentary secretary Virani and saying he was proud of what he accomplished in the role.

“Confidence in our justice system is central to the rule of law. One way of building that confidence is by reaching out to communities who feel alienated from our justice system: Indigenous people, black and racialized communities,” he wrote.

“This was an important priority for me.”

In his own media statement, Mendicino said it was an honour to serve as public safety minister and thanked members of the national security and law enforcement communities.

“Thank you for putting yourselves in harm’s way to protect Canadians every single day. We do not say this nearly enough,” he wrote.

“To my cabinet and caucus colleagues, it remains a privilege to work with you. The seating arrangements may move around in the House or Commons from time to time, but we are family and committed to the same cause.”

Fortier tweeted that it was a privilege to serve in cabinet. 

Ultimately, 30 of 38 ministries were affected by Wednesday’s shuffling portfolios. The cabinet is now made up of 19 women and 20 men, including the prime minister himself.

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Defence Minister Anita Anand looks on after making a keynote address at the CANSEC trade show, billed as North America’s largest multi-service defence event, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Sources says Anand is moving to a new portfolio in Wednesday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

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Ahead of the shuffling portfolios, four other ministers — three Toronto-area cabinet ministers and one B.C. minister — announced that they are not running in the next federal election, opening up spots at the table.

Public Services and Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek said Tuesday morning she will not be running in the next election. The Ontario MP for Markham-Stouffville posted on social media that it “has been an immense honour and a privilege to represent our community at both the provincial and federal levels.”

Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra announced that after 11 years in federal politics, he will not be running again and will step aside from his cabinet duties.

“The prime minister deserves a cabinet who is committed to running in the next federal campaign,” he said. “This was not an easy decision.”

Speaking to reporters Monday, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett also announced she will not be seeking re-election in her Toronto–St. Paul’s riding.

Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray, who represents Vancouver Quadra, made a similar announcement Tuesday — despite having told reporters on June 21 that she planned to run again. 

“After much thought and reflection, I have decided not to run again in the next election after my current term,” she said in a media statement Tuesday.

“My work in politics and time serving my community both federally and provincially as an elected official has been the honour of my life.”

Senior government sources say a cohort of rookies will be sworn in as new cabinet ministers during a ceremony at Rideau Hall on Wednesday.

Sources said Trudeau’s goal is to put the focus back on the government’s economic priorities — including housing — and shore up the cabinet ahead of the next election campaign.

The government also wants to put key communicators on important files, the sources said.

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Mendicino’s departure follows months of controversy over his performance. He’s been under intense pressure over the transfer of serial killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison. The minister also has come under fire over his management of the government’s gun control legislation and the foreign interference file.

Asked last week in Kingston, Ont., whether he had confidence in Mendicino, Trudeau did not answer directly.

I have an amazing team in Ottawa and an amazing group of MPs right across the country who are committed to serving their country every single day, and anyone in my cabinet by definition has my confidence,” he said.

Sources have said Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will keep her position.

According to Radio-Canada, CBC’s French-language arm, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault are also staying put.

Multiple ministers are being dropped from federal cabinet in shuffling portfolios expected to take place Wednesday, sources tell CBC News.

Those senior government sources say the shuffle is intended to put the focus on the government’s economic priorities —including housing — and shore up the cabinet ahead of the next federal election campaign. The government also wants to put key communicators on important files.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called ministers back to Ottawa for meetings on Monday and Tuesday, said sources with knowledge of the shuffling portfolios who are not authorized to speak publicly. 

Such meetings typically happen just before a cabinet shuffle to allow the prime minister to present ministers with their new portfolios. The prime minister’s public itinerary shows he will be in private meetings on Tuesday. His Monday itinerary also said he was in private meetings.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will keep her position, said sources with knowledge of the meetings.

According to Radio-Canada, CBC’s French-language arm, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault are not changing portfolios.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Mental Health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett announced she will not be seeking re-election in the Toronto—St. Paul’s riding. While she is staying on as an MP, it would not be surprising if Trudeau replaced the veteran politician in cabinet with someone re-offering for the next election.

Like Bennett, Transportation Minister Omar Alghabra will not be seeking re-election and will be shuffled out of cabinet as a result, sources tell CBC. He is expected to make an announcement about his future on Tuesday.

Sources said Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Ginette Petitpas Taylor, the minister responsible for official languages and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, are among those who have been asked to return to Ottawa.

Several ministerial announcements that had been scheduled for early this week have been cancelled. They include events originally set for Monday with Petitpas Taylor in Montreal, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra in Vancouver and Housing Minister Ahmed Hussen in St. John’s.

It’s not clear if those ministers will be changing jobs. Cancelled ministerial events are often a sign that a cabinet shuffle is pending.

Last month, several Liberal sources told Radio-Canada they believe Marco Mendicino is at risk of being removed as minister of public safety.

Mendicino has been under intense pressure due to the controversy over the transfer of serial killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison. The minister also has come under fire over his management of the government’s gun control legislation and the foreign interference file.

Asked last week in Kingston, Ont., whether he had confidence in Mendicino, Trudeau did not answer directly.

“I have an amazing team in Ottawa and an amazing group of MPs right across the country who are committed to serving their country every single day, and anyone in my cabinet by definition has my confidence,” he said.

The shuffling portfolios is expected to be the biggest change to Trudeau’s cabinet since October 2021, when the Liberals’ second minority mandate was a month old.

It comes ahead of a scheduled cabinet retreat next month in P.E.I., which should give new ministers a few weeks to familiarize themselves with their portfolios.

This shuffling portfolios will put the prime minister’s team in place for the next federal election.

Trudeau undertook a similar retooling of his cabinet in July 2018, prior to the 2019 federal election campaign. That shuffling portfolios saw five ministers added to cabinet and new portfolios created for seniors, intergovernmental affairs and border security.

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