TORONTO — Facing mounting pressure, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will conduct a cabinet reshuffle on Friday.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Thursday evening that Trudeau will attend the swearing-in ceremony and preside over a meeting with his new cabinet later Friday.
Trudeau’s leadership is facing increasing criticism, and the sudden resignation of his finance minister on Monday may prove insurmountable.
A growing number of Liberal MPs are urging Trudeau’s resignation, but newly appointed Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc stated Thursday that Trudeau retains the “full support of his Cabinet.”
LeBlanc acknowledged the views of Liberal lawmakers advocating for Trudeau’s resignation.
“They’re expressing their opinion. The prime minister listened attentively, responded to some specific points raised, and indicated he would carefully consider the matter,” LeBlanc explained.
LeBlanc emphasized the government’s continued focus on its work and addressing the threat of a 25% tariff on all Canadian products from President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration next month.
“We shouldn’t be preoccupied with internal matters,” LeBlanc stated.
LeBlanc plans to meet with Tom Homan, Trump’s incoming “border czar,” after Christmas to discuss Canada’s border security plan to mitigate the tariff threat.
Trudeau, who has led the country for almost a decade, has seen his popularity decline in recent years due to various factors, including the high cost of living and inflation.
Currently, there’s no immediate mechanism within Trudeau’s party to remove him. He could resign, or a “no confidence” vote in Parliament, leading to a likely Conservative victory, could force his Liberal party from power.
As more Liberal MPs called for Trudeau’s resignation this week, Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson suggested, “We should all give him some time for reflection.”
Concerns over Trudeau’s leadership intensified Monday when Chrystia Freeland, his finance minister and deputy prime minister, resigned. Freeland was highly critical of Trudeau’s economic management in light of Trump’s tariff threats. The housing minister also resigned shortly before Freeland’s announcement.
Because Trudeau’s Liberals lack a majority in Parliament, they’ve relied on the support of the leftist New Democratic Party (NDP) to pass legislation and maintain power. However, this support has dwindled—the NDP leader has also called for Trudeau’s resignation—potentially paving the way for a “no confidence” vote.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, however, hesitated to commit to bringing down the government immediately, partly due to the potential for crippling tariffs from Trump and the need for Parliament to respond accordingly.
Parliament is currently adjourned for the holidays until late next month, with a potential “no confidence” vote scheduled afterward.
“It seems Trudeau will step down eventually, but the timing remains uncertain,” noted Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. “The cabinet shuffle aims to fill vacancies and alleviate ministerial workloads, but it won’t improve the Liberal party’s standing in the polls; it’s too late for that.”
LeBlanc also confirmed that Mark Carney won’t be joining the Cabinet. Trudeau had been attempting to recruit Carney, the former head of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, to his government. Carney had expressed interest in politics and potentially leading the Liberal Party.
“Mr. Carney won’t be Canada’s finance minister anytime soon,” LeBlanc clarified. “The prime minister tasked me with preparing for a spring budget.”
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