December 20, 2024
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his new cabinet today. We have an overview of all the changes, including the troop of new faces, several of whom were first elected in 2015 and were finally invited today to join the front bench.
The elephant in the room was the prime minister’s unfolding political crisis, with the loss of key ministers and allies over the past week and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s announcement this morning that his party would vote to bring down the government when Parliament returns.
Anita Anand
Former president of the Treasury Board and minister of transport
First elected October 21, 2019
Gary Anandasangaree
Former minister of Crown-Indigenous relations
First elected October 19, 2015
Steven MacKinnon
Former minister of labour and seniors
First elected October 19, 2015
Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Former minister of employment, workforce development and official languages, minister of veterans affairs and associate minister of national defence
First elected October 19, 2015
Rachel Bendayan
New to cabinet
First elected February 25, 2019
Élisabeth Brière
New to cabinet
First elected October 21, 2019
Terry Duguid
New to cabinet
First elected October 19, 2015
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith
New to cabinet
First elected October 19, 2015
Darren Fisher
New to cabinet
First elected October 19, 2015
Ruby Sahota
New to cabinet
First elected October 19, 2015
Joanne Thompson
New to cabinet
First elected September 20, 2021
Marie-Claude Bibeau
Former minister of national revenue (Jul. 26, 2023 – Dec. 20, 2024)
First elected October 19, 2015
Filomena Tassi
Former minister of responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (Aug. 31, 2022 – Dec. 20, 2024)
First elected October 19, 2015
Carla Qualtrough
Former minister of sport and physical activity (Jul. 26, 2023 – Dec. 20, 2024)
First elected October 19, 2015
Dan Vandal
Former minister of northern affairs, minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada and minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (Nov. 20, 2019 – Dec. 20)
First elected October 19, 2015
The path forward is highly contingent on the Liberal government’s unfolding political crisis. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is likely to frame today’s shuffle as a restabilization of his front bench, and a signal to both caucus and Canadians that his government remains engaged and in-control. How successful that effort will be, is a matter of debate. As we have seen in the past week, Trudeau’s ability to hold onto the reins faces new hurdles almost daily.
Ministers entering new portfolios will be briefed by deputy ministers and given transition binders to bring them up to speed on their new files. Changes are also anticipated within the public service, so keep an eye out for new senior civil servants assigned to cabinet ministers in the weeks ahead.
Ministerial staff are a big wild card. This transition usually takes a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks as ministers determine who will stay in a portfolio, follow their boss, or opt to leave the Hill. The depleting pool of experienced Liberal political staff complicates this transition period.
The prime minister will reconfigure cabinet committees to reflect the changes announced today. Cabinet committees carry out the day-to-day business of the executive branch, reviewing most major decisions taken by the government.
Pre-budget work is underway and ministers will hold significant sway on funding and policy announcements in Budget 2025. The finance minister is expected to solicit ministerial letters for budget priorities from cabinet and direct the department to hold pre-budget consultations.
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