Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has executed a major cabinet overhaul as doubts surrounding his leadership persist.
On Friday, Trudeau introduced his restructured cabinet at Rideau Hall, bringing in eight new members and reassigning several existing ones in a sweeping shuffle. Among the most notable appointments, Nate Erskine-Smith, a vocal Toronto MP who has occasionally voted against his own party, will now serve as the housing minister, replacing Sean Fraser. Fraser had announced on Monday that he would not seek re-election.
David McGuinty, MP for Ottawa, will step into the role of public safety minister, succeeding Dominic LeBlanc, who was appointed as finance minister earlier in the week following Chrystia Freeland’s unexpected resignation.
Other fresh faces include Montreal MP Rachel Bendayan, now serving as the official languages minister and associate minister of public safety, and Nova Scotia MP Darren Fisher, who takes over as veterans’ affairs minister and associate minister of defence. Winnipeg MP Terry Duguid will head the sports ministry while also managing Prairies economic development.
Additionally, Newfoundland MP Joanne Thompson has been named minister for seniors, Quebec MP Élisabeth Brière assumes the national revenue portfolio, and Ruby Sahota takes charge of southern Ontario economic development and democratic institutions.
Several current cabinet ministers also saw changes in their responsibilities. Oakville MP Anita Anand will retain her role as transport minister but will take on a new portfolio centered on internal trade. Meanwhile, Ginette Petitpas Taylor of New Brunswick has been appointed as Treasury Board president, relinquishing her previous veterans’ affairs and employment portfolios. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon will now oversee employment.
Gary Anandasangaree, the minister of Indigenous Crown Relations, will expand his responsibilities to include northern affairs and northern economic development.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized his government’s priorities, stating, “Our team remains dedicated to what truly matters—making life more affordable, boosting economic growth, and ensuring good jobs for the middle class. Together, we will continue building a prosperous future that supports the middle class and benefits all Canadians.”
This sweeping reshuffle comes as Trudeau faces increasing pressure to step down. Freeland’s resignation earlier this week—just hours before she was due to deliver the fall fiscal update—has intensified scrutiny. Her resignation letter criticized the government’s spending approach and warned that Trudeau was not adequately addressing trade challenges posed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Freeland’s departure has emboldened dissent within the Liberal Party, with 20 MPs now publicly calling for Trudeau’s resignation. Toronto MP Rob Oliphant is the latest to join this growing list, raising further questions about the stability of Trudeau’s leadership in the months ahead.
