Federal ministers on the move in Trudeau’s inner circle shake up
Posted January 14, 2019 5:29 am.
Last Updated January 14, 2019 2:32 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – There are two new faces in the five politician federal cabinet shake up, and an unexpected move from Justin Trudeau.
He’s chosen a new Justice Minister and has announced that Montreal MP David Lametti — who is a rookie to cabinet — will now be taking on that key role, while high-profile B.C. MP Jody Wilson-Raybould — the first Indigenous person to run that ministry — is moving to Veterans Affairs.
It’s a move many political watchers see as a demotion for the Vancouver-Granville MP, however, Trudeau tells reporters her new portfolio requires just as much experience and attention.
“Jody Wilson-Raybould has demonstrated through her ability to navigate through difficult files — whether it’s on medical assistance in dying or reform of our criminal justice system — that she is extraordinarily capable of delivering on this file which is one of the core delivery mandates that the federal government has,” Trudeau says.
Wilson-Raybould says she’s proud of her new role, and adds being Veterans Affairs minister is an important job.
“I would say that I could think of no world in which I would consider working for our veterans in Canada as a demotion,” she says.
Meantime, Markham—Stouffville MP Jane Philpott is moving on from her role as Minister of Indigenous Services and Vice-Chair of the Treasury Board to become President of the Treasury Board — a spot left vacant last week by the resignation of longtime MP Scott Brison.
Maclean’s senior writer Paul Wells says it’s an important fiscal file to take, ahead of a pre-election budget.
“That goes to the government’s credibility, the kid of aura of the government that takes tax payer dollars seriously.”
She will also become Minister of Digital government.
Big cabinet shuffle news a change at Justice and two new faces in this 5 politician shake up #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/dkQM7Exoq4
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) January 14, 2019
The shuffle has also seen St. John’s South-Mount Pearl MP Seamus O’Regan move into the role of Minister of Indigenous Service.
There’s also a new ministry being created — Rural Economic Development — and that goes to Nova Scotia MP Bernadette Jordan.
The new minister won’t have a lot of time to get used to their new files; the cabinet retreat begins on Wednesday, and the spring sitting of parliament starts at the end of the month.
This shake up to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s inner circle is likely the last before the federal election, which is just several months away.
