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Trudeau overhauls cabinet amid Party challenges, tensions with Trump

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Dec 2024 21:45

The cabinet shake-up followed a turbulent week in Ottawa, sparked by the unexpected resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.

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Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a cabinet swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall, on December 20, 2024, in Ottawa, Canada (AFP)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reshuffled his cabinet on Friday, replacing one-third of his team amid growing political turmoil that threatens his leadership and escalating tensions with US President-elect Donald Trump.

The cabinet shake-up followed a turbulent week in Ottawa, sparked by the unexpected resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Her departure, driven by disagreements over Trump’s threats to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports, marked the first public dispute within Trudeau’s cabinet and has heartened his critics.

Freeland’s resignation, after nearly a decade as one of Trudeau's closest allies, has led the Prime Minister to consult intensively with advisors as he faces mounting calls to step down. While elections are scheduled for October 2025, many anticipate they could occur much sooner.

In Friday’s reshuffle, eight new ministers were appointed to fill vacancies left by members of the 35-person cabinet who announced they would not seek re-election. Additionally, the reshuffle aimed to ease the workload of ministers holding multiple portfolios. Four existing ministers were reassigned to new roles.

Freeland, who also vacated her position as finance minister, confirmed her intention to seek re-election next year.

Lagging in the polls

Trudeau’s longtime ally Dominic LeBlanc was swiftly sworn in as the new finance minister. He also assumed responsibility for managing negotiations with the incoming Trump administration.

Despite expressions of confidence in Trudeau by some cabinet members during Friday’s swearing-in ceremony, parts of his caucus have urged him to step aside. Concerns are mounting that voter fatigue with Trudeau’s leadership could undermine the Liberal Party’s prospects in the next election.

Trudeau, who came to power in 2015, has led the Liberals to two additional electoral victories in 2019 and 2021. However, public opinion polls now show him trailing Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre by 20 points, following a year in which the Liberals lost four by-elections.

Adding to these challenges, Trudeau faces the potential imposition of 25% tariffs by Trump on imports from Canada and Mexico, accused by the President-elect of contributing to the flow of illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl, and undocumented migrants into the United States.

Over 75% of Canadian exports are directed to the United States, supporting nearly two million jobs across Canada. In her resignation letter, Freeland cautioned that such measures could ignite a "tariff war" with the US, criticizing Trudeau’s fiscal policies.

Last month, Trudeau traveled to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in an effort to avert a trade conflict. While Trump described the meeting as "very productive", subsequent social media remarks from the president-elect included jabs at Trudeau, calling him the "governor" of Canada and suggesting that the neighboring country becoming the 51st American state could be a "great idea".