Trudeau grows cabinet, with new focus on trade, borders, and seniors

OTTAWA The federal cabinet got a reconfiguration and expansion Wednesday, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing a considerable cabinet shake-up that rearranged six ministers’ responsibilities and promoted five MPs to the front bench. Scroll down or click here to replay our blog Click here for the full list of cabinet changes The shuffle positions the governing Liberals to put new emphasis on internal and international trade, border security, seniors, as well as more broadly the changing political landscape domestically and evolving international circumstances. The new appointments also allowed Trudeau to put in place the ministerial team he wants to take into the 2019 election and take on what he acknowledged as an “ambitious” remaining agenda. Following the swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall, Trudeau told reporters outside that the files getting enhanced priority such as trade diversity, expanding tourism, promoting Canadian exports, still fit into his pledge to grow the economy and help the middle class. Though, amid an enhanced provincial and territorial pushback to a handful of key federal files, like climate change, cannabis legalization, and irregular border crossers, Trudeau said it’s a priority for him to have a cabinet of “strong voices that are able to directly reassure Canadians about the path we’re on.” With the retooling, Trudeau retains the gender parity in cabinet, with 18 men if you include the prime minister, and 17 women. The cabinet now includes 35 members, up from the 30 there were prior to today. No one was removed from cabinet, but a few ministers did have certain responsibilities handed over to someone else.