It was then, as we thought… A major shakeup of the cabinet, rather than a few surgical transplants, as Prime Minister Trudeau takes the opportunity to widen his declared support base within his own Liberal Party. Widened, but diluted... Most of the newbies are people that only their constituents could be expected to have ever heard of. In military terms, it is the deployment of reserves and raw recruits, the main force having been battered into ineffectiveness.And trying to draw a little limelight, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh takes this moment to promise he will vote 'no confidence' in the Liberal government at the first opportunity. Alas Mr. Singh, you had a chance last week. Where were you then? Frankly, Singh now looks like the fellow who backs away from a fight in a bar, but shakes his fist and threatens his assailants as they drive off. He put it in writing this time, but do you now believe him therefore? .UPDATED: Singh to bring down Trudeau gov’t at first opportunity.Back to the Liberals. If you were in cabinet before and had had enough of Justin Trudeau’s leadership style, this would have been the time to bail out.Otherwise, if you’re still there, you’re on board.Committed.In the bunker, with this leader, to the end.The mainstream media should have known this by the way, as they questioned those arriving at Rideau Hall to be sworn in. Nevertheless, they kept asking, “Do you have confidence in the prime minister?”As new minister of Crown Indigenous Relations Gary Ananadsangaree told them, ‘that’s why I’m here.’Well, there.The Western Standard news story has full appointment details below..Trudeau names eight new ministers in major cabinet overhaul.Seasonal goodwill forbids that we call it scraping the bottom of the barrel.Nevertheless, there is no depth here. Until now, whatever those sworn in for the first time today bring to the table, has not been needed.But that has changed... The essential quality for today’s cabinet appointments was just one thing; loyalty to Justin Trudeau.Not on top of the list you will notice from a quick scan, is any experience or quality that might suggest expertise in negotiating trade agreements with the US government which one month today, becomes the biggest single task of the Government of Canada. For the sake of every Canadian who pays taxes and buys American-made goods, I suppose we should wish them luck.But it remains a conundrum and having wondered what Mr. Trudeau sees in them, any normal person can’t help wondering what it is that these new appointees see in him.Certainly most Canadians and allegedly half his caucus, want him gone. These new cabinet ministers must be his friends, thenBut, not to put too fine a point on it, if friends don’t let friends drink and drive, what kind of friends let Justin Trudeau continue as prime minister?Best leave that a rhetorical question. See a complete list of the new Cabinet here. You will note that the prime minister has not exercised his option to draft a Senator to remind Cabinet of the interests of Alberta and Saskatchewan.So, it's what we expected. The prime minister has already used up the goodwill of the more experienced and talented members of his caucus. Including Chrystia Freeland who spectacularly jumped ship on Monday, no less than five ministers have been fired or given up, just this year alone.The others would be Housing Minister Sean Fraser, Edmonton MP Randy Boissonnault, Pablo Rodriguez and Seamus O’Regan. Meanwhile four others having had enough, have announced their intentions to resign at the next election.Now, trying to build a cabinet, he has to work with the wood available, green and unseasoned as some of it is.What next?These appointments suggest to me that the prime minister has not got the message and intends to tough it out. Certainly, if Mr. Trudeau wishes to continue as prime minister, this gets him through to the end of January, when Parliament resumes.Thereafter, he faces the prospect of opposition days, when presumably Mr. Singh can join with the Conservatives and vote no confidence, precipitating an election. Or Mr. Trudeau can open Parliament and prorogue.Sensible prognosticators would not risk their reputations further by speculating upon prorogation, or further deals with a duplicitous NDP.What does not change, is that this country needs an election. It has needed one for a year, it needs one now more than ever and it needs one because this new cabinet does not have what it takes to do the job that needs doing in 2025.As Oliver Cromwell told a British parliament in broadly similar circumstances, "You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. In the name of God, go."
