Trudeau Shuffles Cabinet

By: Laura Steiner

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has shuffled his cabinet.  The moves have affected six ministers.

• Chrystia Freeland moves from International Trade to Foreign Affairs.  She keeps the Canada-US file including trade relations.
• Maryam Monsef moves from Minister of Democratic Institutions to Minister of Status of Women.
• Patricia A. Hajdu moves from Status of Women to Minister of Employment, Workforce, Development, and Labour

Three new faces join the cabinet:

• Karina Gould takes over from Monsef as Minister of Democratic Institutions.
• Ahmed Hussen takes over as Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship from John McCallum.
• Francois-Phillippe Champagne takes over from Freeland as Minister of International Trade.

McCallum As Ambassador to China?

Trudeau hinted at a future role for John McCallum. “I am pleased to announce that I will be proposing the Honourable John McCallum to the Chinese government as Canada’s Ambassador to China,” he said in a statement.  McCallum will be asked to handle Canada’s growing relationship with China.

Stéphane Dion is set to leave politics altogether.  “I have enjoyed political life, especially when I was able to make a difference to my fellow citizens,” Dion said in a statement on his website.  Dion has served as MP for St. Laurent-Cartierville for 21 years including stints in the cabinets of former Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin.  He served as Liberal Leader from 2006-2008.  Media reports say Trudeau has offered Dion a job as Ambassador to Germany, and the European Union (E.U.)

Trudeau’s moves are viewed as a response to incoming President Donald Trump.  Trump has stated he wants to rework the North American Free Trade Agreement (N.A.F.T.A.) or scrap it altogether.  Canada is the USA’s top trading partner moving $2 billion/ day in goods and services.