Montreal MP David Lametti is Canada’s new justice minister, taking over from Jody Wilson-Raybould, who has been moved to Veterans Affairs Canada in a cabinet shuffle Monday in Ottawa.
Lametti is one of two new ministers in the shakeup of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s inner circle in what’s likely to be the last change before Canadians head to the polls later this year.
Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre was scheduled to react to the shuffle at a news conference on Parliament Hill at 11:30 a.m. ET, and CBC News will carry it live.
Lametti, a former law professor at McGill University, had previously served as parliamentary secretary to Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains.
Trudeau denied that Wilson-Raybould’s replacement was a demotion due to underperformance, insisting she has demonstrated she is “extraordinarily capable” in navigating complex files such as medical assistance in dying and reforms to the criminal justice system. He said the Veterans Affairs file should not be seen as anything other than a “deep and awesome responsibility.”
“The challenges of continuing to move forward on making sure that our veterans and their families are properly supported, and our capacity to continue to close the seam in terms of working between the Department of National Defence and the Department of Veterans Affairs will require a deft and steady hand,” Trudeau said.
Wilson-Raybould also denied she was demoted, and defended the strength of her record in handling challenging files and appointing judges.
She said she is looking forward to directing her hard work to veterans.
“They deserve significant and strong representation, and that’s what I’m committed to doing,” Wilson-Raybould said.
Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott has been chosen to fill the cabinet vacancy as president of the Treasury Board, and Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan replaces Philpott.
O’Regan said he will work hard to fill Philpott’s shoes, aiming to improve clean water, health care and education for Indigenous communities.
He was asked about handling the sensitivities of his new file, given a past controversy when he came under fire from some veterans for suggesting his departure from a career in journalism gave him insight into how members of the Canadian military feel as they take off their uniforms for the last time.
“You have to be yourself. You have to demonstrate empathy where you can. You have to listen intently and you have to let people know you have an open heart,” he said. “I don’t want anything at all to distract from the work that I do, and the work that I do is not about me.”
The cabinet shuffle was prompted by the resignation of longtime MP Scott Brison, president of the Treasury Board.
He announced Thursday he wouldn’t be running for re-election this year so was stepping down now, leaving a Nova Scotia representation vacancy in cabinet.
On Monday, Nova Scotia MP Bernadette Jordan was appointed minister of Rural Economic Development.
According to a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office, Jordan will be tasked with developing a new rural development strategy to “spur economic growth and create good, middle-class jobs in rural Canada.” She will also work to bring high-speed internet to rural homes and businesses, and work with municipalities, provinces, territories and Indigenous partners to meet infrastructure needs of rural communities.
Several ministers were juggled just six months ago, as Trudeau expanded and shifted his cabinet ahead of the 2019 election year.
July’s shuffle brought five new ministers to the table and added new files for seniors, intergovernmental affairs and border security.