An embattled Trudeau reshuffled his Cabinet on Friday — but whether he will step aside in the coming days or weeks remains an open question.
Trudeau participated in the swearing-in ceremony and will chair a meeting with his new Cabinet later in the afternoon. He is not expected to speak publicly Friday as he mulls his future.
Trudeau is facing rising discontent over his leadership, and the abrupt departure of his finance minister on Monday could be something he can’t recover from.
Parliament is now shut for the holidays until late next month, and a “no confidence” vote could be scheduled sometime afterward.
Because Trudeau’s Liberals don’t hold an outright majority in the Parliament, they have for years depended on the support of the leftist New Democratic Party to pass legislation and stay in power. But that support has vanished — NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has called on Trudeau to resign — and he made clear Friday the NDP will vote to bring down the government.
“No matter who is leading the Liberal Party, this government’s time is up. We will put forward a clear motion of non-confidence in the next sitting of the House of Commons,” Singh said in letter released just before Trudeau was schedule to shuffle his Cabinet.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, who would likely be the country's next Prime Minister, and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet have both said that an election must take place early next year to give a new Parliament time to deal with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump.
