OTTAWA – Thunder Bay Liberal MP Patty Hajdu has maintained her seat at the cabinet table.
Hajdu, her party’s minority government hanging on by a thread, on Friday was reappointed as the minister of Indigenous Services and the minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski, was once again left out of cabinet, despite dwindling numbers in the Liberal caucus.
Changes in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet included Anita Anand shifting to transport and internal trade, Gary Anandasangaree moving to Crown-Indigenous relations and Northern Affairs, Steven MacKinnon taking on employment, workforce development and labour, and Ginette Pettipas Taylor being named president of the Treasury board.
Newcomers to cabinet include Rache Bendayan (official languages and associate minister of public safety), Elisabeth Briere (national revenue), Terry Duguid (sport and minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada), Nate Erskine-Smith (housing infrastructure and communities), Darren Fisher (veterans affairs and associate minister of national defence), David J. McGuinty (public safety), Ruby Sahota (democratic institutions and the minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario) and Joanne Thompson (seniors).
The cabinet shuffle announcement came on the same day that NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh vowed to bring down the Liberal minority by introducing a non-confidence vote at the next sitting of the House of Commons, currently not scheduled until Jan. 27.
