PM Trudeau names new ministers to several key files in sizable cabinet shakeup
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has considerably shaken up his cabinet roster, naming new ministers to key portfolios including defence, health, foreign affairs, and environment, while adding in a handful of rookies as he forges ahead with a third mandate.
The 39-member cabinet was unveiled Tuesday at a swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. The prime minister’s new front bench maintains gender parity and includes a new emphasis on regional development agencies.
There are several new cabinet roles, while many other positions have been revamped to include new or different elements, with just seven ministers holding on to the same title and role they had before the ceremony.
“We have a team of familiar faces and new faces that are ready to put all their strengths, all their hard work towards delivering for Canadians in the coming years,” Trudeau told reporters Tuesday afternoon.
Addressing the sizeable renovation of his cabinet, Trudeau said it stems from the 2021 federal election outcome that saw Canadians opt to send back largely the same seat allocation as there was previously.
“One of the things we saw very clearly in this election was that Canadians are expecting big things to be done by Parliament, and by this government,” Trudeau said, citing ending the pandemic for good, building an “inclusive” economy, fighting climate change, and continuing Indigenous reconciliation as examples. “With a refreshed and reinvigorated team around me, I'm really excited about what we're going to be able to accomplish for Canadians and I know that this team is raring to go.”
Anita Anand, who led the country’s COVID-19 vaccine procurement effort, is replacing Harjit Sajjan as minister of defence in taking on the military’s sexual misconduct crisis. Sajjan is being moved to minister of international development.
“My top priority is to make sure that everyone in the Armed Forces feels safe and protected and that they have the support that they need, when they need them, and the structures in place to ensure that justice is served,” said Anand during the post-ceremony cabinet media availability.
“There isn’t a position that I’ve left where you’re fully content with it,” Sajjan said of his move.
Canada’s new procurement minister, who will quickly face pressure to ensure all contracts with pharmaceutical companies are in place for potential COVID-19 booster shots, is Filomena Tassi.
Patty Hajdu has been moved from the health file after 19 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been given a new mandate as minister of Indigenous services. Carolyn Bennett has been shuffled out of Crown-Indigenous relations, and that portfolio has been given to Marc Miller. Hajdu will soon play a role in the government deciding whether it will appeal a decision by the Federal Court to uphold two Canadian Human Rights Tribunal orders requiring Ottawa to pay out billions of dollars to Indigenous children.
Speaking about the challenges ahead in his new role, Miller said that he does not have just one priority.
“This relationship started with land. The relationship has been broken because of land, land theft, and it's time to give land back. That's just the reality of it. It is easily said, it's more difficultly done... I think we've built a measure of trust that I think I can take into this department and start moving quickly on things that one, shouldn't have happened in the first place, and in order to fix them, need to move a whole heck of a lot quicker.”
Jean-Yves Duclos is the new minister of health, and Bennett has been tapped to be his associate minister of health as well as holding the new role of minister of mental health and addictions. Also taking on a new role is Ahmed Hussen, as the minister of housing, diversity and inclusion.
The public safety portfolio has been split in two, seeing Bill Blair maintain the emergency preparedness element, while Marco Mendicino takes on public safety. Replacing Mendicino as immigration, refugees and citizenship minister is cabinet newcomer from Atlantic Canada, Sean Fraser.
Among the other Liberals new to cabinet—most of whom have been MPs for years—are Mark Holland, who previously was the chief government whip but is now taking the key Government House Leader role stickhandling legislation through the minority Commons; re-elected Randy Boissonnault, Marci Ien, Helena Jaczek, Kamal Khera, Gudie Hutchings, and newly-elected Pascale St-Onge. St-Onge made history as Canada's first out lesbian in cabinet.
Bardish Chagger and veteran Liberal Marc Garneau have been shuffled out of cabinet, and stepping into the foreign affairs portfolio previously held by Garneau will be Melanie Joly.
In this senior and high-profile role, Joly will take on Canada’s international and diplomatic relationships, including with the United States and China.
In a tweet, Joly called her new appointment “a great honour.” “As the world is changing, we will be strategic in our actions. We will conduct our international affairs in a true Canadian fashion: with humility and audacity,” she said.
Jonathan Wilkinson is moving from environment to natural resources, and long-time environmental activist Steven Guilbeault is Canada’s new environment minister.
“After 30 years of fighting climate change outside of government, I am humbled and I am honoured to be given the opportunity to accelerate our fight against climate change as Canada’s new Minister of Environment and Climate Change,” Guilbeault tweeted on Tuesday.
The decision to put new faces in the foreign affairs and environment files comes just days before Trudeau’s trip to the G20 Summit in Italy and then the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Scotland. Now, he’ll be joined by some new faces meeting their international colleagues potentially for the first time at these summits.
Moving back into the Canadian heritage role is Pablo Rodriguez, who will quickly face a few hot files, including what becomes of a controversial online content regulation proposal formerly titled Bill C-10, and promised new online harms legislation that had a contentious consultation process this summer.
Rodriguez told reporters that he “will be consulting,” but still intends to move forward the promised bills quickly.
Jim Carr, who previously was Trudeau’s special representative for the Prairies, no longer has a role in cabinet.
Asked about why he removed three ministers, Trudeau said that: “Cabinet making requires difficult choices.”
As for the speculation that Marc Garneau has a diplomatic post lined up, Trudeau refused to confirm it, saying that “there will be, of course, plenty more announcements that we'll be making over the coming weeks and months.”
In late September, Trudeau announced that Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland would stay put and continue to be his second in command.
The ministers and ministers-designate strode up the driveway Tuesday morning, tucked under umbrellas and behind facemasks, alongside their loved ones. An orchestra played upon their arrival, and inside the ballroom where the ceremony took place, one-by-one the new cabinet were greeted by Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Mary May Simon as they read their oaths of office.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh held a press conference following the swearing-in event, calling for the federal cabinet to get to work “right away” on key issues, such as the future of COVID-19 aid benefits, climate change, and reconciliation.
“We want to see actions on really solving these problems, delivering real justice. That's what we're looking for,” he said.
In a statement, Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole described Trudeau’s roster of mostly incumbent ministers—all but eight have held cabinet roles previously—as “inexperienced and ideologically driven individuals who represent a real risk to our economic prosperity and our national unity.”
“Today’s changes to cabinet represent just another example of the Prime Minister continuing to reward ministers who have consistently demonstrated incompetence and a lack of accountability,” said O’Toole.
Backed by his ministers, Trudeau received applause when he responded simply “yes” when asked by CTV News whether he intends on leading the Liberal Party into the next election. First, however, he has the new Parliament to navigate with this new inner circle. The 44th Parliament will kick off on Nov. 22, with a speech from the throne.
Here’s the full new roster of cabinet ministers:
- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland
- Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra
- Minister of National Defence Anita Anand
- Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health Carolyn Bennett
- Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau
- President of Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair
- Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance Randy Boissonnault
- Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Francois-Phillipe Champagne
- Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos
- President, Treasury Board Mona Fortier
- Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser
- Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Karina Gould
- Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault
- Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario Patty Hajdu
- Leader of the Government in the House of Commons Mark Holland
- Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion Ahmed Hussen
- Minister of Rural Economic Development Gudie Hutchings
- Minister of Women, Gender Equality and Youth Marci Ien
- Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Helena Jaczek
- Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly
- Minister of Seniors Kamal Khera
- Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti
- Minister of intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities Dominic Leblanc
- Minister of National Revenue Diane Lebouthillier
- Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Lawrence MacAulay
- Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino
- Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller
- Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray
- Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Mary Ng
- Minister of Labour Seamus O’Regan Jr.
- Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Ginette Petitpas Taylor
- Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough
- Minister of Canadian Heritage and Quebec Lieutenant Pablo Rodriguez
- Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada Harjit Sajjan
- Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec Pascale St-Onge
- Minister of Public Services and Procurement Filomena Tassi
- Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency Dan Vandal
- Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson
IN DEPTH
Budget 2024 prioritizes housing while taxing highest earners, deficit projected at $39.8B
In an effort to level the playing field for young people, in the 2024 federal budget, the government is targeting Canada's highest earners with new taxes in order to help offset billions in new spending to enhance the country's housing supply and social supports.
'One of the greatest': Former prime minister Brian Mulroney commemorated at state funeral
Prominent Canadians, political leaders, and family members remembered former prime minister and Progressive Conservative titan Brian Mulroney as an ambitious and compassionate nation-builder at his state funeral on Saturday.
'Democracy requires constant vigilance' Trudeau testifies at inquiry into foreign election interference in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified Wednesday before the national public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada's electoral processes, following a day of testimony from top cabinet ministers about allegations of meddling in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. Recap all the prime minister had to say.
As Poilievre sides with Smith on trans restrictions, former Conservative candidate says he's 'playing with fire'
Siding with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on her proposed restrictions on transgender youth, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre confirmed Wednesday that he is against trans and non-binary minors using puberty blockers.
Supports for passengers, farmers, artists: 7 bills from MPs and Senators to watch in 2024
When parliamentarians return to Ottawa in a few weeks to kick off the 2024 sitting, there are a few bills from MPs and senators that will be worth keeping an eye on, from a 'gutted' proposal to offer a carbon tax break to farmers, to an initiative aimed at improving Canada's DNA data bank.
Opinion
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
opinion Don Martin: The doctor Trudeau dumped has a prescription for better health care
Political columnist Don Martin sat down with former federal health minister Jane Philpott, who's on a crusade to help fix Canada's broken health care system, and who declined to take any shots at the prime minister who dumped her from caucus.
opinion Don Martin: Trudeau's seeking shelter from the housing storm he helped create
While Justin Trudeau's recent housing announcements are generally drawing praise from experts, political columnist Don Martin argues there shouldn’t be any standing ovations for a prime minister who helped caused the problem in the first place.
opinion Don Martin: Poilievre has the field to himself as he races across the country to big crowds
It came to pass on Thursday evening that the confidentially predictable failure of the Official Opposition non-confidence motion went down with 204 Liberal, BQ and NDP nays to 116 Conservative yeas. But forcing Canada into a federal election campaign was never the point.
opinion Don Martin: How a beer break may have doomed the carbon tax hike
When the Liberal government chopped a planned beer excise tax hike to two per cent from 4.5 per cent and froze future increases until after the next election, says political columnist Don Martin, it almost guaranteed a similar carbon tax move in the offing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Drone footage shows Ukrainian village battered to ruins as residents flee Russian advance
The Ukrainian village of Ocheretyne has been battered by fighting, drone footage obtained by The Associated Press shows. The village has been a target for Russian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
Local Spotlight
Twin Alberta Ballet dancers retire after 15 years with company
Alberta Ballet's double-bill production of 'Der Wolf' and 'The Rite of Spring' marks not only its final show of the season, but the last production for twin sisters Alexandra and Jennifer Gibson.
B.C. mayor stripped of budget, barred from committees over Indigenous residential schools book
A British Columbia mayor has been censured by city council – stripping him of his travel and lobbying budgets and removing him from city committees – for allegedly distributing a book that questions the history of Indigenous residential schools in Canada.
Three Quebec men from same family father hundreds of children
Three men in Quebec from the same family have fathered more than 600 children.
Here's how one of Sask.'s largest power plants was knocked out for 73 days, and what it took to fix it
A group of SaskPower workers recently received special recognition at the legislature – for their efforts in repairing one of Saskatchewan's largest power plants after it was knocked offline for months following a serious flood last summer.
Quebec police officer anonymously donates kidney, changes schoolteacher's life
A police officer on Montreal's South Shore anonymously donated a kidney that wound up drastically changing the life of a schoolteacher living on dialysis.
Canada's oldest hat store still going strong after 90 years
Since 1932, Montreal's Henri Henri has been filled to the brim with every possible kind of hat, from newsboy caps to feathered fedoras.
Road closed in Oak Bay, B.C., so elephant seal can cross
Police in Oak Bay, B.C., had to close a stretch of road Sunday to help an elephant seal named Emerson get safely back into the water.
B.C. breweries take home awards at World Beer Cup
Out of more than 9,000 entries from over 2,000 breweries in 50 countries, a handful of B.C. brews landed on the podium at the World Beer Cup this week.
Kitchener family says their 10-year-old needs life-saving drug that cost $600,000
Raneem, 10, lives with a neurological condition and liver disease and needs Cholbam, a medication, for a longer and healthier life.