Former Justice Minister David Lametti Resigns, Reflects on Challenging Time in Office

OTTAWA – Former justice minister David Lametti announced his resignation from public office, reflecting on the toll taken after being ejected from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s cabinet. The Montreal MP’s resignation will take effect at the end of this month.

Lametti, first elected in 2015 and appointed as federal justice minister in 2019, expressed mixed emotions but emphasized that his constituents would benefit from a change. It was in July 2023 that Lametti was shuffled out of cabinet and replaced by current Justice Minister Arif Virani.

Lametti highlighted his accomplishments during his tenure, including the passage of 13 bills such as banning conversion therapy, rolling back mandatory minimum penalties, and updating Canada‘s medical assistance in dying regime. He mentioned his impact on a range of policy files from gun control to disability rights, child welfare, and climate change.

The former minister acknowledged the extraordinary challenges he faced, which included managing a pandemic, border occupations, and invoking the Emergencies Act, as well as a war in Europe. Despite the difficulties, Lametti expressed pride in the role he played in these situations.

After leaving politics, Lametti will be joining the Fasken Martineau DuMoulin law firm, with a focus on Indigenous law. In an interview on CTV News Channel‘s Power Play, he admitted that being shuffled out as justice minister had an impact on him and affected his political balance. Lametti expressed his struggle to find ways to be useful and have a policy impact after the shuffle.