It was more a total remake than a simple shuffle.
In the re-branding of cabinet Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promoted seven rookie MPs to his front bench, gave the boot to seven ministers and then reassigned the majority of cabinet roles.
While the prime minister denied that such a sizeable shakeup was a signal that 2023 hasn’t been going well, the occasion, as CTV put it, was certainly the federal political event of the summer in so far as it will have ripple effects in the months to come.
That, of course, was the plan from the beginning—to have a cabinet team in place to take on a sudden election.
Trudeau said this shuffle came at a time when “there are storm clouds all around the world,” that are having real impacts on Canadians—from the war in Ukraine, to the rise in authoritarianism and foreign interference, to the cost of living.
“This is a positive step in a moment of consequential impact in the world, and in the country. We know times are challenging, but this is the team that is going to be able to continue the hard work rolling up their sleeves and delivering for Canadians… as we build a brighter and ambitious future for all Canadians,” Trudeau said.
“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… That’s what we’re focused on.”
That said, Trudeau did not answer when reporters asked why former public safety minister Marco Mendicino, former justice minister David Lametti and former president of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier were shown the door.
Instead, 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.
Mendicino was finally bounced from cabinet, having failed too many times during his seemingly endless tenure. He botched the government’s gun control legislation, as well as leaving the foreign interference file in the air.
More recently, he was under intense pressure due to the controversy over the transfer of serial killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison in the Quebec Laurentians.
During the swearing-in ceremony, eyes were on Anita Anand, who was handed one of the most high-profile reassignments. She was bumped from defence to become Treasury Board president.
Asked by reporters how she felt leaving defence with unfinished business, Anand said she was “extremely excited” to work as part of the enhanced economic policy team, while indicating former Toronto police chief Bill Blair is committed to pick up where she left off while handling the Ukraine file.
Also picking up key economic roles are Randy Boissonnault, who is now the minister of employment, workforce development, but also official languages minister, and Mary Ng, who has a similar portfolio to what she held the day before, now formally titled minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development.
Pascale St-Onge, who takes over the minister of Canadian heritage portfolio, and is the first out lesbian in Trudeau’s cabinet, leaves her overseeing online platform policies, including the ongoing debacle over implementing online news regulations following the passage of Bill C-18. Heritage, says CTV, is a file close to St-Onge, which she says she is interested in and fits as a next step following her time overseeing the sport portfolio.
Trudeau’s longtime friend, New Brunswick MP 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.
This means he will be the glue between provinces and territories.
