Four Canadian Cabinet Ministers Announce Departure Ahead of Election

Federal Cabinet Minister Filomena Tassi announced on Thursday that she will not be seeking re-election. This decision has sparked a series of similar announcements from other cabinet members, prompting an imminent cabinet reshuffle, as reported by senior government sources to CTV News.

In a statement shared on social media, Tassi, who oversees the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, cited personal reasons for her departure. “My reason for making this decision is deeply personal — it’s time for me to be closer to home with my family,” stated Tassi, describing her decision as “bittersweet.”

CTV News learned from sources that Sports Minister Carla Qualtrough, National Revenue Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, and Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal also intend not to run in the next federal election. Both Qualtrough and Bibeau have served as cabinet members since the Liberal Party’s victory in 2015, while Tassi joined the cabinet in 2017, followed by Vandal in 2019.

The announcement emerges during a time of increasing dissent within Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s Liberal caucus. Sources suggest that a faction of Liberal MPs plans to approach Trudeau, urging him to step aside from his leadership role at an upcoming caucus meeting.

According to Radio-Canada, these four ministers’ departure from the electoral race adds to two other significant resignations, resulting in six ministers opting out since the summer. Moreover, 24 members from the Liberal caucus do not plan to run again, not including seven MPs who have resigned during the current term. The list includes notable figures such as Marc Garneau, David Lametti, and Carolyn Bennett.

Political tensions are heightened as the Liberal Party lags nearly 20 points behind in the polls compared to the opposition Conservatives, according to national polls. Discontent is reportedly growing within the party, as exemplified by the views of MP Sean Casey. “The message that I’ve been getting loud and clear…is that it is time for [Trudeau] to go,” Casey conveyed on CBC’s Power & Politics.

These developments come at a critical juncture, with Trudeau expected to navigate the reshuffling of his cabinet amidst internal challenges to his leadership, as his advisors consider the implications of the upcoming U.S. election.