Carney shuffles cabinet, brings back Trudeau-era minister Marc Miller

Prime Minister Mark Carney shuffled his cabinet on Monday following the resignation of Steven Guilbeault last week, and has brought back a familiar face from the Justin Trudeau era.

Marc Miller, who last served as the minister of immigration under Trudeau, has been appointed as minister of Canadian identity and culture and minister responsible for official languages.

Miller was first elected as the MP for the Quebec riding of Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs in 2015 and held various cabinet positions under Trudeau, but was not included in Carney’s inner circle earlier this year after the Liberals’ federal election win.

Speaking to reporters outside Rideau Hall on Monday, Miller said “it feels great” to be back.

“I am a guy that likes to be busy, and I was a little restless, but it’s nice to get the opportunity to keep on doing some amazing work and contributing to Canada,” Miller said. “For the reasons that I got into politics, because I love my country.”

Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement Joël Lightbound, meanwhile, will now take on a larger portfolio, assuming the role as Quebec lieutenant, while Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin will inherit the nature file.

“It’s an important role in federal politics and in Quebec politics, and I look forward to getting to it with the advice of Steven Guilbeault, who has been an outstanding Quebec lieutenant and minister for years,” Lightbound told reporters.

Prior to the official swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall, government sources told CTV News the shuffle would be small and aimed at covering off the various portfolios previously held by Guilbeault.

On Thursday, Guilbeault resigned as Minister of Canadian identity and culture and Quebec lieutenant, just hours after the federal government announced its energy deal with Alberta.

In his resignation letter, Guilbeault said while he understands the prime minster’s efforts in the face of “profound disruption,” he remains “one of those for whom environmental issues must remain front and centre.”

“That is why I strongly oppose the memorandum of understanding between the federal government and the government of Alberta,” Guilbeault said, noting he made the decision “with great sadness.”

Asked if he’s worried about caucus unity following Guilbeault’s resignation, Miller said “frank and honest conversations” can be had with the prime minister.

“Mark Carney helped us win an election that I think a lot of pollsters had us losing. We do owe him a lot,” Miller said. “But each member of caucus has their voice, and we expect them, as part of our democracy, to voice them inside the confidential atmosphere of caucus.”

Monday’s cabinet shuffle is Carney’s third since he became prime minister back in March after winning the Liberal leadership.

Multiple government sources have told CTV News that it is their expectation for a more substantive cabinet shuffle to happen early in the new year.

With files from CTV News’ Vassy Kapelos, Mike Le Couteur, Judy Trinh and Rachel Aiello