The newcomers to Trudeau’s freshly shuffled cabinet include four lawyers and one notary:
- Toronto MP Nate Erskine-Smith, an Oxford law graduate who’s become known as an occasional critic of the government, was named as minister of housing, infrastructure and communities, tasked with tackling the housing affordability crisis;
- Veteran Ottawa MP David McGuinty, an environmental lawyer by trade, was appointed as minister of public safety, taking over the role from newly minted finance minister Dominic LeBlanc;
- Sherbrooke, Que. MP Élisabeth Brière, who worked as a Quebec notary for 30 years, becomes minister of national revenue;
- Brampton North MP Ruby Sahota, who worked as a lawyer in civil litigation, criminal law, and dispute resolution before entering politics, was sworn in as the minister of democratic institutions and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario;
- Rachel Bendayan, MP for Montreal’s Outremont riding since 2019 and a former international trade law specialist with Norton Rose Fulbright, will serve as minister of official languages and associate minister of public safety.
In his remarks to reporters, Erskine-Smith said he decided to continue his political career after contemplating stepping down because he was offered the opportunity to make a difference in the housing file.
“I see millions of Canadians who are rightly angry about housing, where they see their parents are better off than they are, even though they’re working just as hard and have a job that’s just as good,” he said.
“I understand there’s going to be a short runway,” he added, referring to the near-term possibility of an election. “I’m not blind to that but if I can make a small difference, if I can make a big difference, I want to make the biggest difference I can.”
McGuinty, in his remarks, expressed the government’s solidarity with the Jewish community in the wake of recent, apparent anti-semitic incidents in Toronto and Montreal, including the bombing of a synagogue on Montreal’s West Island.
“There is no place in Canada for this kind of conduct,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Jewish community. This is a very serious matter for us and our government.”
The contingent of new cabinet ministers was rounded out by Winnipeg South MP Terry Duguid as minister of sport and minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, Halifax-area MP Darren Fisher as minister of veterans affairs and associate minister of national defence, and St. John’s East MP Joanne Thompson as minister of seniors.
Trudeau also switched up titles or portfolios for four ministers, including moving former law professor and Oakville MP Anita Anand to minister of transport and internal trade from Treasury Board president.
In addition, Toronto-area MP Gary Anandasangaree, a former human rights lawyer, becomes minister of Crown-Indigenous relations and northern affairs and minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. Gatineau, Que. MP Steven MacKinnon is now minister of employment, workforce development and labour (from minister of labour and seniors), while New Brunswick MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor becomes president of the Treasury Board.
The rest of the 38-member federal cabinet remains unchanged.
But for how long remains anyone’s guess. In a “letter to Canadians” issued on the same day that the refreshed cabinet was unveiled, NDP Official Opposition Leader Jagmeet Singh vowed that his government will put forward “a clear motion of non-confidence” in the government in the next sitting of the House of Commons, which is scheduled to resume on Jan. 27 after the year-end break.
“Justin Trudeau failed in the biggest job a Prime Minister has: to work for people, not the powerful. To focus on Canadians, not themselves,” Singh said in his letter.
“The Liberals don’t deserve another chance,” he added. “That’s why the NDP will vote to bring this government down, and give Canadians a chance to vote for a government who will work for them.”
In a statement to reporters on the new cabinet, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the government as “chaotic” and announced that he will write a letter to the Governor General asking to recall the House of Commons for a confidence vote.
A news release from the Prime Minister's Office noted that the shuffled cabinet is comprised of an equal number of women and men.
“Our team is focused on the things that matter most to you – making life more affordable, growing the economy, and creating good jobs for the middle class," Trudeau said in the release. "Together, we will keep building a strong future for the middle class, and for all Canadians.”
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