Transport Minister Omar Alghabra will not be part of the revamped cabinet that will soon be unveiled and there are indications that this will also be the case for his colleagues in Supply and Fisheries, Helena Jaczek and Joyce Murray.
All three posted on social media on Tuesday that they will not stand for re-election. “Consequently, I will be stepping down from cabinet,” Mr. Alghabra wrote, adding that he was grateful for his experience in federal politics which began in 2006.
Ms. Jaczek and Ms. Murray have not gone so far as to confirm that they will no longer be part of the cabinet.
The current Minister of Supply has contented herself with announcing that she will not run for another term as federal MP for the Ontario riding of Markham—Stouffville.
“It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to represent our community at both the provincial and federal levels, as well as serving in cabinet (in both cases),” said the one who also served as a minister in a previous Ontario government.
Ms. Murray, who represents the riding of Vancouver Quadra, also made it known on social networks that she will not be in the running for the next election.
“My work in politics and the time invested in serving my community […] has been the honor of my life,” she said.
On Monday, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Carolyn Bennett, also announced that she will bow out of the federal scene at the end of her current mandate.
According to Minister Alghabra, “the Prime Minister deserves to have a cabinet that is committed to the next federal election campaign.”
Professor of politics Geneviève Tellier, of the University of Ottawa, also believes that it is “essential” that Mr. Trudeau can count on this commitment on the part of each of his ministers.
Barring a turnaround, the cabinet reshuffle is expected to take place on Wednesday, a government source confirmed to The Canadian Press.
Many observers of the federal scene believe that the Minister of Public Security, Marco Mendicino, risks being shown the door of the cabinet or, at least, of being demoted to a less prestigious position.
Ms. Tellier is also of the opinion that the Minister of Housing, Ahmed Hussen, risks losing his current post.
“[La crise du logement]this is the topic of the hour that many Canadians are thinking about, then we don’t hear much about it on this file, ”judges the professor.
She adds that “rumor has it that Trudeau wants [aller] looking for good communicators,” which she said could put Mr. Hussen at a disadvantage.
As for Mr. Mendicino, he found himself under the fire of criticism because of several files, such as that of gun control and that of the prison transfer of serial killer Paul Bernardo.