Several new faces are joining Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet after changes were made to his ministry on Friday morning.
The shuffle brings in eight new ministers, with four existing ministers having their roles changed.
The cabinet shuffle comes days after former finance minister Chrystia Freeland stunned the nation by announcing her resignation on Monday.
Her role was replaced the same day by Dominic LeBlanc, who also serves as the minister of intergovernmental affairs.
Who are the new ministers?
Trudeau attended the swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall on Friday morning. The following new ministers were announced:
- Rachel Bendayan becomes Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety.
- Élisabeth Brière becomes Minister of National Revenue.
- Terry Duguid becomes Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada.
- Nate Erskine-Smith becomes Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities. He will replace Sean Fraser, who announced on Monday that he would not run again in the next election.
- Darren Fisher becomes Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence.
- David J. McGuinty becomes Minister of Public Safety. He takes over this role from Dominic LeBlanc, who was juggling multiple cabinet positions.
- Ruby Sahota becomes Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
- Joanne Thompson becomes Minister of Seniors.
What were the changes made with existing ministers?
Justin Trudeau at Friday’s cabinet swearing-in ceremony/ CPAC
Gary Anandasangaree remains the minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and northern affairs and has also become the minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.
Anita Anand served as the president of the Treasury Board and transport minister but is now minister of transport and internal trade. Ginette Petitpas Taylor will take on the role of president of the Treasury Board.
Steven MacKinnon was named minister of employment, workforce development, and labour.
In a news release, Trudeau said this new ministry “will deliver on what matters most to Canadians: making life more affordable and growing the economy.”
“Building on the work done since 2015 to invest in Canadians, the team will continue to move forward on housing, child care, and school food while working to put more money back in people’s pockets,” he added.
Trudeau’s updated cabinet retains a total of 38 ministers with an equal number of men and women.
Despite today’s changes, the prime minister faces an uphill battle with the future of his political career at stake.
After Freeland’s departure, calls for Trudeau’s resignation have grown across all federal parties, including the Liberals.
On Friday morning, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh published a letter to Canadians stating that his party would “put forward a clear motion of non-confidence” against Trudeau in the next sitting of the House of Commons.