Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made significant changes to his cabinet ahead of the country’s next election, marking the first ministerial shake-up since his re-election with a minority government in 2021.
Of the 38 cabinet members sworn in on Wednesday, only eight retained their previous roles, as Trudeau emphasized addressing the ongoing housing crisis and other pressing domestic and global challenges, such as climate change impacts, the conflict in Ukraine, and potential economic downturns.
A major change involves combining housing and infrastructure portfolios, aiming to tackle Canada’s increasing unaffordability and limited housing supply amidst a surge in immigration. The average home price in Canada is C$716,083 ($528,000; £426,000), with higher prices in cities like Toronto.
Trudeau also appointed a new defence minister, Bill Blair, amid growing calls from NATO allies for Canada to increase its defence spending to at least 2% of GDP.
The cabinet shuffle is seen as a way for Trudeau to refocus his government and address criticisms ahead of the upcoming election, which must take place on or before October 20, 2025. However, the opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, has criticized the changes, claiming they are an admission of the government’s failure to deliver on its promises. An Abacus Data poll shows the Progressive Conservative opposition leading with 38% of public support compared to Trudeau’s 28%.
-BBC-
