Trudeau arrives at Rideau Hall to reshuffle his cabinet in a big way

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has arrived at Rideau Hall to reshuffle his cabinet in a big way.

“It’s a great day today,” Trudeau said, walking solo as he entered the governor-general’s mansion to oversee the summer’s main federal political event.

In a swearing-in ceremony taking place at 10:30 a.m. EDT, Governor General Mary Simon will preside over changes to the Federal Ministry that will see seven ministers removed, some starters promoted and the reassignment of most other roles.

Defence minister Anita Anand is one of the ministers who CTV Neombs has confirmed will get a new gig, shifting to an economy-focused portfolio on the Treasury Board, a country-based job and her third Cabinet job.

Her replacement will be Bill Blair, taking up the high-profile international Cabinet post amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and ongoing defense spending pressures. This will open up the emergency preparedness position, in one of what will be a cascade of reassignments made on Wednesday.

Canadians can expect that nearly the entirety of Trudeau’s cabinet will be new, or they will find themselves in new roles after this morning’s swearing-in ceremony.

Current ministers and initial MPs arrived ahead of the prime minister, Offering Early indications of who is in line for a new job.

Those who have walked down the street, appearing ready for promotion to the Cabinet are:

• 
  Burnaby North-Seymour, deputy of B. C. Terry Beech, first elected in 2015;
• 
  Mississauga Streetsville, Ont. Rechie Valdez elected for the first time in 2021;
• 
  Carleton,Ont. Jenna Sudds elected for first time in 2021;
• 
  Parkdale-High Park, Ont. MP Arif Virani, elected for the first time in 2015;
• 
  York Center, Ont. Ya’ara Saks elected for the first time in 2020;
• 
  Hochelaga, Que. Deputy Soraya Martinez Ferrada, elected for the first time in 2019; and
• 
  Scarborough Rouge Park, Ont. Gary Anandasangaree, first elected in 2015

While the Liberals arrived at a sprinkling of television cameras and political journalists, few said much about what awaited them inside, though some indicated it was a good morning and were looking forward to their new roles.

The seven ministers that CTV Neporbs has confirmed will be removed from cabinet include four who have announced they will not run again: Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Joyce Murray, Public Services and Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek and mental health and Addictions Minister Carolyn Bennett.

The other three are Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, justice minister David Lametti and Treasury Board President Mona Fortier.

In a statement posted on social media On Wednesday morning, Mendicino—who was at the centre of the reshuffle talk about mishandling hot files-said it had been “an honour” to serve as minister in the Immigration and public security portfolios for nearly four years, and he plans to stand as Liberal MP for Eglinton-Laantanrence, Ont.

“Those who know me well know that politics is in my blood… I have every intention of continuing to serve for the remainder of this term, and in the upcoming elections,” Mendicino said.

“For my cabinet and colleagues of the parliamentary group, it remains a privilege to work with you. Sitting arrangements may occasionally move through the House of Commons, but we are family and committed to the same cause.”

These departures, from key battleground regions and regions, have opened up space around Trudeau’s cabinet table for a list of fresh faces.

There are currently 38 members in the gender-balanced cabinet, not counting the prime minister. Regional representation is always a crucial consideration in building a front Bank as well, and these newly announced departures mean Trudeau will seek to fill locations in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.

Four ministers will hold their current jobs: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Innovation, Science and industry Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault.

Trudeau’s entire top tier has been invited to attend the ceremony, whether they are on the move or not.

The Shuffle is likely to also trigger mechanisms of government changes such as changes in the titles of certain ministers or portfolio responsibilities, as well as a significant shake-up of staff.

A senior government source told CTV Neombs that Trudeau and his close circle have seen this shuffle as “hardening” the Prime Minister’s economic team around issues such as housing affordability and the clean energy transition, to present a clear contrast with their main conservative opponents when it comes to how they see and communicate

It has also been widely discussed that the rise of top performers to key positions today could help Liberals, after eight years in power, present a refreshed face to make the case to the Canadian public that they are re-elected.

Set to be one of, if not the most consequential reconfigurations in Trudeau’s cabinet since 2015—and the first major change since the Liberals ‘ election victory in 2021—today’s mix-up could block the team the prime minister will lead in the next election, currently scheduled for 2025.

The prime minister will speak to the media after the reshuffle, at 12:15 a.m. EDT, and will lead an EDT cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon with the new list, in the Western Bloc.

Then, it will be on new and reassigned ministers to start work on re-focused promises Trudeau commands them to prioritize and prepare for the September return of Parliament.

With files from Ctv Neimbs Chief Political Correspondent, Vassy Kapelos