Trudeau made 104 federal appointments after announcing resignation

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made 104 federal appointments since he announced his “intention to resign” on January 6.

Records obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter show Trudeau’s appointees include four senators, six ambassadors and 14 judges. He also reappointed a former Liberal MP whose term at a federal agency did not expire until months after Trudeau leaves office.

“I made a personal commitment to bring new leadership and a new tone to Ottawa,” Trudeau wrote in his 2015 Ministerial Mandate letter.

He promised a “different style of leadership in government” with “commitment to transparency and merit-based appointments.”

Trudeau announced his resignation seven weeks ago, saying he wants to give Canadians “a fresh start.” Rather than call an election, he prorogued Parliament until March 24, stating the prorogation would give the Liberal party time to select a new leader.

“It has become very, very clear I cannot be the leader to take the party into the next election because of internal divisions,” Trudeau told reporters January 6.

Trudeau and his Liberal cabinet have since approved 104 appointments including judges, diplomats, two “special advisors” and directors of dozens of federal boards. Cabinet orders included a three-year reappointment of former Liberal foreign minister Pierre Pettigrew as chair of the Asia-Pacific Foundation though his current term doesn’t expire until July 1.

Other Liberal appointees were named to the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Canadian Centre for Occupational Health, Canadian Cultural Property Expert Review Board, Canadian Energy Regulator, Canadian High Arctic Research Station, Canadian Museum of Nature, Canadian Race Relations Foundation and Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

New directors were named at Farm Credit Canada, First Nations Financial Management Board, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Historic Sites and Monuments Board, Immigration and Refugee Board, Inuvialuit Arbitration Board, National Capital Commission, National Gallery, National Research Council, National Seniors Council, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Net Zero Advisory Body, North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization and North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission.

Appointees were also named to the Pacific Economic Development Agency, Parole Board, Public Sector Pension Investment Board, Public Service Pension Advisory Committee, Social Security Tribunal, Standards Council and Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority.

No appointments have been scrutinized by parliamentarians.

The prime minister in 2015 promised to “make Parliament relevant again” and said he welcomed scrutiny by MPs and senators.

“Ensure that Canadians once again have a real voice in Ottawa,” he wrote in his mandate letter.

“Parliamentarians must have the information and the freedom to do their most important jobs, represent their constituents and hold the government to account.”