Sharjah 24 – AFP: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reshuffled his cabinet on Friday, replacing one-third of his team amid growing political unrest and mounting pressure within his party.
The reshuffle follows the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who stepped down after disagreements with Trudeau over President Donald Trump's threats to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian imports.
Freeland's resignation marked the first open dissent within Trudeau's cabinet, intensifying criticism from his opponents. In response, Trudeau appointed eight new ministers, including his close ally Dominic LeBlanc, who took over as finance minister and will handle negotiations with the incoming Trump administration.
Trudeau faces increasing pressure as his approval ratings drop, with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre leading by 20 points in the polls. Despite two victories in 2019 and 2021, Trudeau's Liberals suffered losses in four by-elections this year. Adding to his challenges, Trump's impending tariffs on Canadian exports threaten Canada's economy, with more than 75% of exports going to the U.S.
In her resignation letter, Freeland warned of a "tariff war" with the U.S. and criticized Trudeau's economic policies. Despite this, some members of Trudeau's party are urging him to step down ahead of the 2025 elections.
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