Despite poor polling numbers, a critical byelection loss, and numerous Liberal MPs jumping ship, Justin Trudeau’s most recently shuffled cabinet minister says the government intends to stay the course.
Trudeau made his government House leader, Steven Mackinnon, the new minister of labour and seniors Friday, replacing the post vacated a day earlier by the prime minister’s longtime friend, Seamus O’Regan.
After being sworn into his new role, Mackinnon promised the Liberal government would continue its current trajectory despite a “devastating” by-election loss in Toronto—St. Paul’s and a growing list of Liberal MPs leaving politics ahead of the next election.
“We are determined to continue on the path that we have set for Canadians,” Mackinnon said in front of Rideau Hall Friday. “This caucus is foursquare behind our leader. This caucus is foursquare behind the policies that we’ve adopted and proud of the record that we have.”
Mackinnon said the government remains committed to the same agenda despite the loss in last month’s Toronto—St. Paul’s byelection, once a Liberal stronghold, and poll numbers suggesting an embarrassing loss for the Liberals come the next election.
“I don’t believe for a second that Canadians are judging…whether it be (our) dental care, whether it be a plan to tackle climate change or our support, during the pandemic, in a harsh way,” he said. “I think that governments have a challenge every day to wake up and continue to offer solutions to Canadians. We will obviously continue to do that.”
O’Regan cited family reasons for his retirement from politics.
“Ultimately, my family comes first,” O’Regan said in a media statement posted to X Thursday. “I need to be a better husband, son, uncle, and friend, and this job means and deserves a lot of time in order to do it well.”
O’Regan will remain the MP for the Newfoundland riding of St. John’s South–Mount Pearl, where he has served since 2015, but won’t seek reelection.
Ontario MP Karina Gould will return to her position as the government House leader after her maternity leave ends later this month. MacKinnon held her position in her absence.
Mackinnon wouldn’t give a straight answer on whether Trudeau would shuffle around his cabinet this summer, saying all he could confirm is that he is going to work as the minister of labour and seniors and that he’s going to do his best to work in that capacity as part of a team.
“(We) wake up every day and try to do the work for Canadians,” he said. “That work is going to continue. We’re entering what will be a very challenging year, an interesting year, and a promising year, I think, and we all have confidence that the Prime Minister will guide us through that.”
Mackinnon was asked if Trudeau should use his vacation time to consider stepping down as prime minister, but the new minister affirmed that the Liberal party is very much behind him in whatever he decides.
“The prime minister has obviously the full authority and full discretion to make the choices that he wants to make. And our confidence in him to make those choices is total,” he said.