Prime Minister Justin Trudeau significantly reshaped his federal cabinet
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau significantly reshaped his cabinet on Wednesday, demoting key ministers and elevating others to crucial portfolios as his minority Liberal government faces challenges on several fronts.
The shuffle — the largest since Trudeau’s Liberals took office in 2015 — involved changes to almost all the ministries in cabinet, including seven ministers who left cabinet and were replaced by new members in the prime minister’s governing inner circle.
The shuffle brings in four rookie GTA ministers who boost the diversity of the Trudeau cabinet in key political constituencies, including Rechie Valdez, a Filipino-Canadian, Ya’ara Saks of Toronto’s Jewish community, Arif Virani, an Ismaili Muslim Canadian who came as a Ugandan Asian refugee, and Gary Anandasangaree, a Tamil-Canadian.
Seven ministers were dropped from the cabinet, including four who announced earlier this week that they won’t run in the next federal election. Trudeau dumped three others: Lametti, outgoing Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, and outgoing Treasury Board President Mona Fortier.
Several others remained in top portfolios, including Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Trudeau also created or altered existing portfolios. Terry Beech, a newcomer to cabinet from British Columbia, becomes minister of citizens’ services. Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson got another title with the addition of energy to his responsibilities.
In a written statement released as his new cabinet was being sworn-in, Trudeau pitched his makeover to Canadians as a cabinet that will “keep delivering on the things that matter most to you — making life more affordable, growing the economy, and creating good jobs for the middle class.”
He called it “the right team, made up of accomplished people who reflect the diversity and talent of our country.”
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Dumitru Constantin 7/26/2023 |
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