Canada’s Trudeau reshuffles his Cabinet as resignation calls mount and new election threat looms
Associated PressTORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s chances of staying on in power have become more tenuous after the opposition party that backed his government for years announced it will vote no confidence in the government when Parliament resumes. “In exactly one month the new president will inaugurated and we are preparing Canada to face that,” Trudeau said in his first remarks to reporters since his finance minister quit. Rachel Bendayan, the official languages minister, said Trudeau “told us he had a difficult choice to make.” The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada. We can’t be in a position where the government has no ability to fight back.” Parliament is now shut for the holidays until late next month, but the leftist New Democratic Party said Friday it would trigger a vote of no confidence in Trudeau after lawmakers reconvene on Jan. 27. Liberal Rob Oliphant became the latest lawmaker to call for the prime minister to step aside, saying there should be a “robust, open leadership contest.” Trudeau, who has led the country for nearly a decade, has become widely unpopular in recent years over a wide range of issues, including the high cost of living and rising inflation.