Canada’s Trudeau reshuffles his cabinet amid ongoing pressure to resign | Politics News

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reshuffled his cabinet just days after his cabinet reshuffle top deputy resigned a move that sent shockwaves across the country and renewed calls for Trudeau to resign as Liberal Party leader.

The prime minister welcomed members of his new cabinet during a swearing-in ceremony in the capital Ottawa on Friday.

Among the key portfolios, Ontario MP David McGuinty has been named Canada’s public safety minister, overseeing federal law enforcement agencies.

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, who also represents an Ontario constituency, is the new housing minister.

The shakeup comes after Canada’s Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced her resignation on Monday a disagreement with Trudeau about how to handle a possible “tariff war” with the United States.

Last month the US President-elect Donald Trump warned Canada that he would impose 25 percent tariffs on the country if it did not do more to curb irregular migration and the flow of illegal drugs across the U.S. border.

“The new administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism, including the threat of 25 percent tariffs. We must take this threat extremely seriously,” Freeland wrote in her resignation letter.

“That means we need to keep our fiscal powder dry today so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war.”

Trudeau, who has been prime minister since 2015, has been under pressure for months to step down as leader the Liberal Party before the federal elections, which must take place before the end of October.

Its popularity has declined sharply in recent years as Canada faces a range of challenges, from a housing crisis to rising costs of living. Polls showed the Liberals trailing far behind the opposition Conservative Party in the 2025 election.

This week, several Liberal MPs publicly called for it that the Prime Minister resigns Following Freeland’s resignation, many have continued to stand by Trudeau despite mounting pressure.

After Friday’s swearing-in ceremony, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, a Liberal minister who was named Treasury’s new president, expressed her support for Trudeau.

“We are all here today because we absolutely support the prime minister,” Petitpas Taylor told reporters. “We are here today. We are a united front and very excited to work for Canadians.”

The Globe and Mail reported Thursday that the prime minister was in talks with senior Cabinet members and party leaders about his future.

Citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter: said the newspaper Trudeau won’t make a decision on whether to step down or stay at the helm until the start of the new year.

Meanwhile, opposition MPs are calling for Trudeau to resign or call new elections.

On Friday, the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) took office – which it had been until September Supporting the Liberal minority government – said it would table a no-confidence motion to bring down the government when Canada’s Parliament reconvenes in late January.

“Justin Trudeau has failed at the greatest job of a prime minister: working for the people, not the powerful. To focus on Canadians, not yourself,” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a statement shared on social media Friday.

“The Liberals don’t deserve another chance. That’s why the NDP will vote to overthrow this government and give Canadians the chance to vote for a government that works for them,” he continued.

“No matter who leads the Liberal Party, this government’s time is up. We will table a clear motion of no confidence at the next sitting of the House of Commons.”

If all opposition parties vote for the motion, Trudeau’s government will fall and new elections will be called.

Justin Trudeau has failed at the greatest job of a prime minister: working for the people, not the powerful.

The NDP will vote to overthrow this government and give Canadians the chance to vote for a government that works for them. pic.twitter.com/uqklF6RrUX

— Jagmeet Singh (@theJagmeetSingh) December 20, 2024