‘Rumours all over town’: Former cabinet minister breaks down what to expect from shuffle

A former cabinet minister says it could take months for new ministers to get up to speed in their new roles, as the Liberals are expected to shuffle their cabinet by Wednesday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been holding private meetings in Ottawa this week while several ministers have cancelled public appearances. Both are signs of an impending shake-up.

There’s still speculation on who will end up in which ministry, and about the motives behind the shuffle.

Former cabinet minister Allan Rock, who held three cabinet roles under former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, gave CityNews a behind-the-scenes breakdown of a shuffle.

“I would say it depends on the portfolio and the minister, but in terms of me and health for example, I went into health at the beginning of June, and in September I was on my feet answering questions in the House,” said Rock.

“I would say it took me that long to get up to speed. The Canadian health-care system is a complicated construct.”

Rock was attorney general, health minister, and industry minister in the 1990s and early 2000s.

He says a minister being moved isn’t necessarily a promotion or demotion. Someone might ask for a new job out of personal interest, or a desire for a less demanding portfolio.

“If you’re a cabinet minister and you hear that a shuffle is coming, it’s obviously the source of some anxiety, or concern,” said Rock. “There are rumours all over town of course, and your deputy and ministerial staff will be telling you about the latest rumours, but you don’t really know what will happen until the PM calls you.”

WATCH: Cabinet shuffle expected, ministers recalled

In recent days Canadians have been getting a clearer idea of who’s in and who’s out.

There are reports Justice Minister David Lametti could be dropped entirely. Procurement Minister Helena Jaczek and Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray say they won’t seek re-election. Likewise, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says he won’t run again.

“As a result of this decision, I’m also stepping aside from my role as minister, as the prime minister deserves a cabinet who’s committed to running in the next campaign,” Alghabra said in a video shared to his Twitter account.

I have news to share: after a lot of reflection, I decided to not run in the next election. As a result I will be stepping aside from cabinet. I was first elected in 2006 and have had the journey of a lifetime. I’m grateful for every minute of it pic.twitter.com/1dNM28YRnN

— Omar Alghabra (@OmarAlghabra) July 25, 2023

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino is a likely candidate to be moved after persistent criticism, but Rock says it’s not an easy ministry to fill.

“It is a very vast portfolio,” he said. “I mean, everything from gun control to Border Services to Corrections Canada, the RCMP – a very heavy responsibility.”

Treasury Board Secretary Mona Fortier cancelled a planned appearance in Ottawa Tuesday morning. Instead, her parliamentary secretary Greg Fergus filled in, but couldn’t say if Fortier’s absence was due to a forthcoming shuffle.

“There’s an old saying in politics. Those who don’t know, can’t answer that question. Those who do know can’t answer that question. So, I can’t answer that question,” said Fergus.

It’s not clear the exact hour when the new cabinet will be announced, but planning is going ahead for Wednesday morning, with an expectation that the new cabinet could meet soon after.

—With files from Xiaoli Li