Canada’s Trudeau unveils major cabinet reshuffle as poll numbers fall

Ottawa, July 26 (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reshuffled much of his cabinet on Wednesday with the aim of increasing focus on economic issues such as housing shortages and rising cost of living that have hurt his standing with voters.

It may be the last swing before the election, which is not expected until the second half of 2025, but it could come earlier.

Liberal leader Trudeau, who has been in power since 2015, brought seven new people into the cabinet but retained heavy hitters like Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly in their portfolios.

The prime minister changed or changed job descriptions for about three-quarters of positions compared to his previous cabinet, with former immigration minister Sean Fraser taking on a newly formed Housing, Infrastructure and communities Ministry.

“This is not confusion. It’s a big reset,” said Frank Graves, president of the survey company Ekos. “The reshuffle sends a clear message that the government is aware that their current standing with the electorate is not healthy.”

The official Opposition Conservatives, who blame Trudeau for housing shortages and rising inflation, have been consistently ahead in polls for more than a year.

A survey of Abacus Data on Wednesday showed the party opened up an unusually large lead over the Liberals with 38% to 28% in public support, enough to secure Trudeau’s defeat if an election is held now.

“Bringing fresh energy with new members and new challenges was important for our economic team in particular,” Trudeau told reporters after the shuffle. “We are facing significant economic challenges-housing, inflation cost of living and interest rates.”

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre threw himself into the shuffle, calling it evidence of the prime minister’s failings.

“Justin Trudeau may have fired many of his cabinet ministers today, but he is as out of touch as ever, doubling down on his inflationary, high-spending and high-tax ways,” he said in a statement.

The timing of the upcoming election is unclear, as Trudeau commands only a parliamentary minority and relies on the support of the left-wing New Democrats to govern. The party has agreed to keep him in power until 2025, but the agreement is not binding.

“We expect to be able to govern for a few more years,” Trudeau told reporters, saying an early vote was not expected.

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh, asked about Trudeau’s comments, said: “We are focused on getting results for the people, not forcing elections.”

Shachi Kurl, President of the Angus Reid Institute polling company, said the election was likely not close.

“No amount of shuffling can ‘refresh’ a government and prime minister that have been around for 8 years,” she said.

“With the Conservatives leading the Liberals by a few points in recent polls, the best thing the Liberals can do is run down the clock and hope that the cost of living is no longer a voting issue by the time they seek another term.”

Reporting by David Ljunggren and Steve Scherer; Additional reporting by Ismail Shakil; Eiting by Paul Simao, Mark Heinrich, Deepa Babington and Mark Porter

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