Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named eight new ministers to cabinet on Friday, December 20, a cabinet shuffle spurred by the resignation of Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, on Monday.
Trudeau not only had to account for the departure of Freeland, but also the recent departures of Sean Fraser and Randy Boissonnault, and had to account for ministers who did not plan to run in the next election, including Dan Vandal, Pablo Rodriguez, Carla Qualtrough, Marie-Claude Bibeau, Filomena Tassi and, even earlier this year, Seamus O’Regan.
Of particular note for agriculture, long-time PEI MP Lawrence MacAulay, who has not ruled out running again in the next election, remains as minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food; Anita Anand remains at transport, but adds internal trade to her workload instead of treasury board; and Steven Guilbeault remains as the head of Environment and Climate Change.
How long this particular cabinet actually serves is anyone’s guess, as leader of the NDP Jagmeet Singh published a letter Friday saying he would not support the government at the next non-confidence motion, likely later this winter. The House of Commons is on its winter break until late January, unless Trudeau seeks prorogation and the Governor General grants it.
Justin Trudeau failed in the biggest job a Prime Minister has: to work for people, not the powerful.
The NDP will vote to bring this government down, and give Canadians a chance to vote for a government who will work for them. pic.twitter.com/uqklF6RrUX
— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) December 20, 2024
Conservative party leader and leader of the official opposition Pierre Poilievre has continued calls for Justin Trudeau’s resignation as leader of the Liberal party and Prime Minister following Freeland’s resignation on Monday.
View the full new cabinet here.
