Speculation is rife in Ottawa as to the identity of the men and women who will form Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s next cabinet, on the eve of a “substantial” reshuffle expected on Wednesday.
“I met the Prime Minister, and I shared with him [la décision] not to represent me in the next election, ”dropped Monday the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Caroline Bennett.
The 72-year-old Torontonian seemed well aware that she could lose her place at the government ministers’ table as early as this week, as she added that she was ready to do “what the Prime Minister will [lui] ask to do. »
Two well-placed government sources confirmed to the Duty that a cabinet reshuffle is scheduled for this week, Wednesday at the earliest. One said the reshuffle would be “substantial,” and could see many Ontario and Quebec ministers inherit new responsibilities.
Several political employees with whom The duty spoke were still making their predictions Monday about the formation of a new Liberal cabinet poised to make it through to the next federal election. None of them were authorized to speak publicly about the issue.
Disrupted schedules
The Prime Minister’s public diary indicates for Monday that he was in the National Capital Region for “private meetings.”
Official Languages Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor canceled an announcement in Montreal at the last minute on Monday. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra also canceled a scheduled press briefing at Vancouver airport. Across the country, in Nova Scotia, Housing, Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen has pushed back an announcement indefinitely.
Justin Trudeau brought nine recruits into his team of ministers after his 2021 election victory. The cabinet leading his minority government is gender-balanced, with 19 men and 19 women. It is mainly made up of members from Ontario (16) and Quebec (11).
The one tiny change he has made to his team since that time was the swapping of roles between two Ontario ministers, Filomena Tassi (head of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) and Helena Jaczek (Public Services and Procurement).
Despite its alliance with the New Democratic Party (NDP), no ministerial post has been reserved for this party located on the left of the Canadian political spectrum. Under this agreement, Justin Trudeau does not have to worry about losing the confidence of Parliament until the fall of 2025, when the next election is scheduled.
The Conservative Party of Canada is calling for the resignation of Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino. The official opposition in Ottawa accuses him of inconsistencies in his public statements about the transfer of serial killer Paul Bernardo to prison. The Commissioner of Corrections, however, clarified that a minister does not have the power to prevent the transfer of an inmate to Canada.