Justin Trudeau with Steven MacKinnon
On Friday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Steven MacKinnon, a Liberal member of parliament from Quebec, as the next labor minister, filling a position left by Seamus O’Regan’s resignation for personal reasons.
MacKinnon, who has been temporarily in charge of government business in the lower chamber since January, takes over the Labour portfolio at a crucial time for Trudeau’s government, which is losing favor among voters due to high inflation and a lack of affordable housing.
O’Regan, who represents a constituency in the province of Newfoundland, announced his resignation on Thursday, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.
A surprising setback to the main opposition Conservative Party in a once-safe Toronto constituency in a special election last month has raised concerns about the Trudeau government’s leadership and strategy.
With around 15 months until the next general election, a range of polls indicate that the Liberals, who have been in power since November 2015, will suffer a significant loss to the Conservatives.
When asked about the situation, Trudeau expressed confidence in Freeland but did not specify whether she would continue as finance minister.
Freeland, who also serves as deputy prime minister, declined to disclose whether Trudeau had informed her that she would remain in her position.
Trudeau has shuffled his cabinet once since forming a minority government following the 2021 election.
The Liberal leader appointed seven new members of parliament to his cabinet in July 2023, but key figures such as Freeland, Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly retained their portfolios.
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