Canada's New Labour Minister: Steven Mackinnon Appointed by Trudeau

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Appoints Steven MacKinnon as New Labour Minister

Ottawa: On Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Steven MacKinnon, a Liberal Member of Parliament from Quebec, as the new Labour Minister. MacKinnon fills the vacancy created by Seamus O'Regan, who stepped down for personal reasons.

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MacKinnon had been temporarily managing government business in the lower chamber since January. He now assumes the labour portfolio at a challenging time for Trudeau's government, which is grappling with declining voter popularity due to high inflation and a shortage of affordable housing.

Seamus O'Regan, representing a constituency in Newfoundland, announced his resignation on Thursday, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. This change comes as Trudeau's government faces increasing scrutiny following a surprise loss to the main opposition Conservative Party in a once-safe Toronto constituency in a recent special election. With about 15 months remaining before the next general election, various polls indicate that the Liberals, in power since November 2015, could face a significant defeat to the Conservatives.

The Globe and Mail newspaper, citing unnamed sources, reported a rift between senior Trudeau aides and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland over concerns about her performance in the critical role. Additionally, there are reports that Trudeau met with Mark Carney, a former Governor of the Bank of Canada, potentially recruiting him into the government.

Both Trudeau and Freeland have been cautious in their responses to inquiries about a possible change in the finance portfolio. Trudeau expressed confidence in Freeland but did not confirm whether she would remain as Finance Minister. Freeland, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, declined to comment on whether Trudeau assured her of retaining her position.

Since forming a minority government after the 2021 election, Trudeau has shuffled his cabinet once. In July 2023, he brought in seven new Members of Parliament into his cabinet, while key figures like Chrystia Freeland, Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne, and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly retained their portfolios.