Media reports are circulating that Minister of Labour and Liberal MP Seamus O’Regan is set to announce by Thursday that he will not seek re-election in the next federal election and will step down from his role in Cabinet.
O’Regan joins 16 other Liberal MPs to declare that they’re not running for re-election.
Anonymous sources say that O’Regan plans to remain a Member of Parliament until the next federal election.
O’Regan is reportedly stepping down due to family reasons.
The Liberals are expected to name O’Regan’s replacement on Friday.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet is set to meet virtually on Friday for approximately 30 minutes, where a cabinet shuffle could occur.
Following the shocking byelection victory for the Conservatives in the Liberal stronghold of Toronto—St. Paul’s, political insiders have urged Trudeau to reverse course or resign.
Friday’s meeting will be the party’s first since the byelection loss.
Various rumours have been speculating about former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney taking over the Liberal party or Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland being shuffled out of her role as finance minister.
Trudeau recently admitted that he’s been trying to recruit Carney to join his government and told reporters that Freeland remains a close ally and partner.
“I think he would be an outstanding addition at a time when Canadians need good people to step up in politics,” said Trudeau.
The Prime Minister’s Office said that Trudeau wasn’t considering a demotion for Freeland.
A recent Ipsos poll showed that 68% of Canadians said it was time for Trudeau to resign.
O’Regan has been a friend of Trudeau for decades, previously serving as a member of his wedding party in 2005.
Before joining politics, O’Regan was a national correspondent for CTV news and a host of the network’s morning show, Canada AM.
He was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 and 2021. O’Regan has held several cabinet positions, including heading the ministries of veteran affairs, Indigenous services, natural resources, and, most recently, the labour ministry in 2021.
O’Regan currently represents the constituency of St. John’s South—Mount Pearl in Newfoundland and Labrador.
This is a developing story and it will be updated as more facts emerge…
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