On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reassigned ministers Filomena Tassi and Helena Jaczek in a small internal cabinet reshuffle at Rideau Hall.
In a simple portfolio swap, Jaczek has been named Canada’s new Minister of Public Services and Procurement, while Tassi takes on the more low-key role of minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. .
The slight reshuffling of the Liberal front bench was done in response to a request from Tassi to spend more time in southern Ontario for family reasons, and on Wednesday the premier indicated he did not wish to bring more changes than necessary to his cabinet. at present.
“It’s been less than a year since the last election, and our government is working extremely hard every day to support Canadians and provide the support needed…And it’s the hard work that we will continue,” said Trudeau, flanked by the two ministers after the brief swearing-in ceremony presided over by Governor General Mary Simon.
In a statement, Tassi said that early last year her husband suffered two strokes.
“As anyone whose family has gone through a similar experience knows, stroke care can be complex and filled with uncertainty.” As a result, Tassi said she approached the prime minister last month to “discuss the balance between my family’s needs and travel demands” that she faced as a minister with pan-Canadian responsibilities. .
She said she looked forward to focusing on creating jobs in her home region and thanked Trudeau for “approaching my situation as a challenge to be met and solved, rather than a choice to be made. between the family or the public service”.
Tassi had overseen Canada’s supply of vaccines as well as new fighter jets. Depicting a Hamilton, Ont. riding since 2015, Tassi previously served as Canada’s labor minister, seniors minister and deputy Liberal whip.
“In her new role, Minister Tassi will ensure the continued strength of FedDev Ontario, creating good middle-class jobs, driving clean economic growth in the region, and supporting small and medium-sized businesses to benefit everyone in the community. south of the country. Ontario,” the Premier’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.
Jaczek was elected federally in 2019 and joined the cabinet in 2021. Representing Markham-Stoufville, Ontario, she was previously the MPP for Oak Ridges-Markham and during that time served as Minister of Ontario Health and Long-Term Care and provincial minister. Minister of Community and Social Services.
“In her new role, she will leverage the purchasing power of government to increase access to economic opportunities for more Canadians while ensuring federal procurement supports Canada’s transition to a clean economy. . She will also ensure that Canada continues to have all the essential supplies needed to respond to current and future pandemics, bringing the experience gained in the health sector,” the PMO statement said.
Wednesday’s cabinet reshuffle is the first time the prime minister has changed his ministerial list since he dramatically shook up responsibility for some key portfolios after the 2021 election.
There are currently 38 members in the joint cabinet, not counting the prime minister. With the exchange of these two minister roles, Trudeau maintains his commitment to gender parity and regional representation in the cabinet has not been affected.
The cabinet adjustment comes just before the federal cabinet retreat next week in Vancouver, where Trudeau and his ministers will meet to discuss priorities and map out their agenda for the fall. Parliament is due to meet again the week of September 19.
While some opposition MPs had indicated they wanted Wednesday’s reshuffle to be more substantive in addressing some of the issues gripping the government and Canadians this summer, from inflation to chaos at airports and passport offices, Trudeau has indicated his confidence in ministers he has in portfolios with hot files.
“We know that Canadians are facing real challenges, with increases in the cost of living, pump prices, grocery prices, housing challenges, and we as a government We’ve been there to support Canadians in a variety of ways,” says Trudeau. “But we know there is more to do and we will continue to do so.”