Cabinet Shuffle

What you need to know

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.

By the Numbers

New to Cabinet

8

ministers are new to cabinet

New Portfolios

4

ministers are in new portfolios

Out of Cabinet

4

ministers are out of cabinet

Total Cabinet Ministers

39

total cabinet ministers
(up from 35)

Cabinet Changes

Minister of Transport and Internal Trade — Anita Anand

Anita AnandAnita Anand
Former president of the Treasury Board and minister of transport
First elected October 21, 2019

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency — Gary Anandasangaree

Gary AnandasangareeGary Anandasangaree
Former minister of Crown-Indigenous relations
First elected October 19, 2015

Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour — Steven MacKinnon

Steven MacKinnonSteven MacKinnon
Former minister of labour and seniors
First elected October 19, 2015

President of the Treasury Board — Ginette Petitpas Taylor

Ginette Petitpas TaylorGinette 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

Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety — Rachel Bendayan

Rachel BendayanRachel Bendayan
New to cabinet
First elected February 25, 2019

Minister of National Revenue — Élisabeth Brière

Élisabeth BrièreÉlisabeth Brière
New to cabinet
First elected October 21, 2019

Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada — Terry Duguid

Terry DuguidTerry Duguid
New to cabinet
First elected October 19, 2015

Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities — Nathaniel Erskine-Smith

Nathaniel Erskine-SmithNathaniel Erskine-Smith
New to cabinet
First elected October 19, 2015

Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence — Darren Fisher

Darren FisherDarren Fisher
New to cabinet
First elected October 19, 2015

Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario — Ruby Sahota

Ruby SahotaRuby Sahota
New to cabinet
First elected October 19, 2015

Minister of Seniors — Joanne Thompson

Joanne ThompsonJoanne Thompson
New to cabinet
First elected September 20, 2021

Out of Cabinet

Marie-Claude Bibeau

Marie-Claude BibeauMarie-Claude Bibeau
Former minister of national revenue (Jul. 26, 2023 – Dec. 20, 2024)
First elected October 19, 2015

Filomena Tassi

Filomena TassiFilomena 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

Carla QualtroughCarla Qualtrough
Former minister of sport and physical activity (Jul. 26, 2023 – Dec. 20, 2024)
First elected October 19, 2015

Dan Vandal

Dan VandalDan 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

Next Steps

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.

Transition
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.
Staffing Up
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.
Cabinet Committees
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.
Budget 2025
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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