In a key cabinet shuffle, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Anita Anand, the current Treasury Board President, as Canada’s new Minister of Transport. The move follows the decision by long-serving cabinet member Pablo Rodriguez to step down from his ministerial role to pursue leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP).
Rodriguez, who has long represented Quebec as a senior Liberal figure, leaves a noticeable gap in the Trudeau cabinet, particularly in his home province. To address this, Jean-Yves Duclos, the Minister of Procurement, will take over as the Liberal’s Quebec lieutenant.
Anand’s official swearing-in ceremony took place at Rideau Hall on Thursday, with Governor General Mary Simon presiding. While Prime Minister Trudeau was not in attendance, Anand was joined by a small group of family and staff for the event.
In her first comments as Transport Minister, Anand expressed her appreciation for Rodriguez’s years of service but refrained from commenting on the broader impact of his departure on the Liberal Party. “His decision is personal, and I wish him all the best,” Anand remarked, avoiding speculation on the political consequences of his move.
Rodriguez, who will continue to represent the Honoré-Mercier riding, has opted to sit as an Independent MP until he formally launches his leadership campaign in January 2025. He explained that this decision is aimed at avoiding the costs and complications of a byelection just before a general election. “I’m running as an Independent because my focus now aligns with my own vision, not that of the government,” Rodriguez stated.
First elected in 2004, Rodriguez faced a significant political setback in 2011 when he lost his seat to the NDP during the Orange Wave. He reclaimed his position in 2015 and has held multiple key roles in Trudeau’s cabinet, including Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Heritage Minister.
Rodriguez’s departure follows a series of recent challenges for the Liberals, including a significant byelection loss in Montreal to the Bloc Québécois. His exit also reflects a broader trend of high-profile Liberals distancing themselves from the Trudeau administration. In July, former Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan announced his resignation and decision not to seek re-election, and the Liberals’ national campaign director, Jeremy Broadhurst, stepped down just before the fall parliamentary session.
These notable exits, along with over a dozen other Liberal MPs choosing to either step down or not seek re-election, signal a period of considerable transition and uncertainty within the Liberal Party.