OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be shuffling his cabinet on Monday, CTV News has confirmed.
The shuffle comes ahead of a federal cabinet retreat, and follows the resignation of Liberal minister Scott Brison.
"Obviously this will require some changes to our cabinet and that's something that we’re going to be announcing on Monday," Trudeau said, responding to media questions in Kamloops, B.C.
Trudeau declined to offer any additional details on the size or scope of the shuffle.
Speculation over the shuffle is ranging from it being a modest shift to a dramatic shakeup, as Trudeau finalizes the team he wants to take into the 2019 campaign.
The campaign for the Liberals will, in part, tout the mandate commitments fulfilled during this government’s first term, while finding ways to try to sell their problem-plagued files or broken promises. Regional considerations are also at play as the party factors in having strong representation at the highest federal level, out on the campaign trail.
Brison announced Thursday that he will not be seeking re-election in the fall and so he’s resigning from his cabinet role as president of the Treasury Board, with the vow to help his replacement’s transition.
"In an election year he and the government and Canadians in my view, are better served by ministers who will be candidates in the next election, with their loins girded for battle. And I did not necessarily want to be a lame duck Treasury Board President in a cabinet leading up to an election," Brison said in an interview with CTV News.
Trudeau has rearranged his front bench in some way in every year since coming to power. The last time was in July, when he expanded cabinet, promoting five MPs and rearranging six others.
In that shuffle, the Liberals put new emphasis on internal and international trade diversity, provincial relations, border security, seniors, and tourism.
Previous shuffles were framed in various ways, from resetting the nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous people, to responding to the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump.
After making Monday’s adjustments to his ministerial roster, Trudeau and his cabinet will convene in Sherbrooke, Que., from Wednesday to Friday.
"Quebec is at the heart of Canada’s history and our future success, and we will continue to support the workers and industries of Quebec -- and those across the country -- to build a stronger economy that benefits all Canadians," Trudeau said in a statement announcing the retreat.
As part of the retreat, six heads of mission will join the cabinet for a discussion on "Canada's place in a changing world," including former cabinet ministers Stephane Dion, who is Canada's ambassador to Germany and special envoy to the EU, and John McCallum who is the ambassador to China.
