Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce a major cabinet reshuffle today as calls for him to step down grow, according to CBC News.
Sources from CBC News and Radio-Canada revealed that Ottawa MP David McGuinty and Toronto MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith will join the cabinet. According to insiders, the reshuffle is expected to involve at least 10 members.
However, a CBC News report quoted a senior government source as saying that the timing and scale of the reorganization should not be taken as a signal that the prime minister has made a decision about his future, adding that Trudeau was still “reflecting” his position.
Sources said the reshuffle is aimed at ensuring the integrity of the cabinet so that the government can function normally.
Notably, the move follows the resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Earlier on December 16, just hours before the Canadian Economic Statement was released, Freeland announced his resignation from the cabinet.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve in government, to work for Canada and Canadians,” Freeland wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau. “Together we have accomplished so much. On Friday, you told me that you no longer wanted to I did.” served as your finance minister and offered me another position in the cabinet. “
“After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that the only honest and feasible path is for me to resign from cabinet. In order to be effective, ministers must represent the Prime Minister and speak with confidence.”
In making your decision, you made it clear that I could no longer credibly enjoy this confidence and the authority that came with it. Over the past few weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds over the best path forward for Canada,” the letter added.
Following Freeland’s resignation, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh urged Trudeau to “resign” and said “all options” were on the table when asked if he would support a no-confidence motion.
Singh told reporters in Ottawa that Canadians face a variety of economic problems, from expensive groceries to high housing prices and the threat of tariffs when U.S. President-elect Trump takes office next year.
Jagmeet Singh said: “Instead of focusing on these issues, Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party are focusing on themselves. They are fighting for themselves, not for Canadians. So today, I am calling on Justin Trudeau to Ludo resigned.
In early September, the federal NDP withdrew its support for the Supply and Confidence Agreement with the Liberal government.