Four more Liberal ministers not seeking re-election as internal caucus revolt brews

OTTAWA — Four more Liberal ministers will reportedly not be seeking re-election in the next federal election, which will force Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to proceed with an imminent cabinet shuffle at a time when an internal caucus revolt is brewing.

According to Radio-Canada, Minister of National Revenue Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Sport and Physical Activity Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Northern Affairs Dan Vandal and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Filomena Tassi recently told Trudeau they will not be running again.

All four of them were first elected in 2015, and both Bibeau and Qualtrough have been in cabinet since then.

In a statement shared on X, Tassi said the reason for making this decision is “deeply personal” and that it is time for her to be closer to home with family. She had requested a lighter workload in 2022 after her husband had suffered two strokes.

Tassi called her decision to leave politics “bittersweet” and said she is “deeply grateful” to Trudeau for entrusting her with a variety of portfolios in cabinet.

“I am honoured that he believed in me and thank him for his understanding and empathy. I wish him the very best now and in the future. I believed in him in 2015 and I believe in him now,” she added in her statement.

A Liberal source also confirmed that Vandal will not be seeking re-election, and that he would be publishing a statement later in the day.

Bibeau’s office said she was out of the country until next week, while Qualtrough’s office did not immediately return the National Post’s call.

Trudeau had already lost two senior ministers in recent months. Seamus O’Regan resigned from cabinet for personal reasons and was replaced as Minister of Labour by Steven MacKinnon this summer. Pablo Rodriguez resigned to run for the Quebec Liberal Party leadership and his position as Transport Minister was taken on by Anita Anand.

More to come…

— With files from Stephanie Taylor

National Post [email protected]

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