Toronto – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to rearrange his Cabinet on Friday, according to two top officials who shared this information on Thursday, speaking on the condition of anonymity as they were not cleared to disclose such details publicly.
Trudeau is presently grappling with growing dissatisfaction regarding his leadership, particularly following the sudden resignation of his finance minister earlier this week, an event that may significantly impact his ability to govern moving forward. An increasing number of Liberal members of Parliament are urging Trudeau to step down; however, the newly appointed Finance Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, stated that Trudeau enjoys the “full support of his Cabinet.”
LeBlanc expressed an understanding of the opinions held by some Liberal lawmakers advocating for Trudeau’s resignation, acknowledging, “That’s a view they are expressing. The prime minister listened carefully when that view was expressed to him,” he added that the Prime Minister is reflecting on these concerns. LeBlanc emphasized the need for the government to stay focused on pressing international issues, particularly the threat posed by President-elect Donald Trump to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods after he takes office in the coming month.
“We shouldn’t be looking inward. We shouldn’t be worrying about ourselves,” he insisted. LeBlanc mentioned plans to meet with Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming border official, after the holidays to discuss Canada’s border security strategy, a crucial topic given the impending tariffs.
Having served as Prime Minister for nearly ten years, Trudeau’s popularity has significantly waned in recent times due to various challenges, including surging costs of living and inflation. Unfortunately for his party, there is currently no short-term mechanism to remove him from his leadership position. He could choose to resign voluntarily, or alternatively, the Liberal party could face a “no confidence” vote in the Parliament, potentially resulting in the Conservative Party gaining power.
With a growing chorus of Liberal lawmakers pressing for his resignation, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson remarked during the week, “We all need to give him a little time to reflect.” Trudeau’s leadership came into sharper focus on Monday when Chrystia Freeland, serving as both finance minister and deputy prime minister, stepped away from her role. Freeland had been vocal about her discontent concerning Trudeau’s economic management, especially in response to the threatening tariffs from Trump. Notably, the housing minister also resigned shortly before Freeland’s announcement.
Due to the fact that Trudeau’s Liberal party does not hold an outright majority in Parliament, they have historically depended on support from the New Democratic Party (NDP) to pass legislation and sustain their governing authority. However, that support appears to be waning, with the NDP leader explicitly calling for Trudeau’s resignation, which could pave the way for a “no confidence” vote in Parliament.
While NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has not committed to toppling the government immediately—citing the potential repercussions of Trump’s proposed tariffs that might necessitate a Parliamentary response—he continues to call for a change in leadership.
As Parliament is now on recess until late next month, any potential “no confidence” motion could be tabled shortly after the break. Additionally, LeBlanc has confirmed that Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, will not be joining the Cabinet, despite Trudeau’s interest in having him become part of the government. LeBlanc remarked, “Mr. Carney isn’t about to become Canada’s finance minister in the short term,” noting the Prime Minister has asked him to prepare for the upcoming budget in spring.