Send this page to someone via email Three ministers from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s cabinet are taking on new roles amid the fallout of the SNC-Lavalin affair. The mini cabinet shuffle follows the resignation of Jody Wilson-Raybould from cabinet last month in the wake of allegations that, while serving as attorney general, she was pressured to intervene and cut a deal to help the Montreal engineering firm avoid a criminal trial. READ MORE: Jody Wilson-Raybould resigns from cabinet amid SNC-Lavalin affair, Trudeau ‘surprised and disappointed’ Formerly attorney general, Wilson-Raybould was removed from that position in January 2019 and appointed Minister for Veterans Affairs. She resigned from that position and cabinet altogether on Feb. 12. WATCH BELOW: Shuffled ministers say decision to keep Wilson-Raybould in caucus up to Trudeau 2:32 Shuffled ministers say decision to keep Wilson-Raybould in caucus up to Trudeau Shuffled ministers say decision to keep Wilson-Raybould in caucus up to Trudeau – Mar 1, 2019 Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan took on the veterans’ portfolio in a temporary capacity but that role now officially goes to Lawrence MacAulay, who was formally agriculture minister. Story continues below advertisement International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau replaces MacAulay as the new Minister for Agriculture, becoming the first woman to hold that position in Canadian history. Maryam Monsef, Minister for the Status of Women, will keep that role and also take on the international development portfolio formerly held by Bibeau. The decision to shuffle from within cabinet rather than bringing in new faces also means the Liberals are keeping those with clear track records on several files that seem set to come up during the fall election, rather than adding variables into the mix roughly six months ahead of it. WATCH BELOW: Lawrence MacAulay takes on Veteran’s Affairs after Jody Wilson-Raybould’s resignation 1:29 Lawrence MacAulay takes on Veteran’s Affairs after Jody Wilson-Raybould’s resignation Lawrence MacAulay takes on Veteran’s Affairs after Jody Wilson-Raybould’s resignation – Mar 1, 2019 Bibeau in particular will likely find herself on the defensive with Quebec dairy farmers frustrated with the shelf space being offered up to foreign dairy products under trade deals including the CPTPP with Asian countries and the new NAFTA agreement, which has yet to be fully ratified by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Story continues below advertisement Following the CETA agreement with the European Union, the government announced $350 million to help Canadian dairy farmers become more competitive and to compensate them for lost market share. Similar deals for market share offered up to foreign producers under the CPTPP and new NAFTA deal have not been announced. WATCH BELOW: Marie-Claude Bibeau named Agriculture Minister in cabinet shuffle 1:38 Marie-Claude Bibeau named Agriculture Minister in cabinet shuffle Marie-Claude Bibeau named Agriculture Minister in cabinet shuffle – Mar 1, 2019 However, dairy farmers have been demanding they receive similar benefits to offset the impact, and the issue will likely factor in significantly to voter concerns on the ground in Quebec as the Liberals look to shore up support in that province to maintain their majority. She acknowledged those concerns in a scrum with reporters following her swearing-in. “My riding is a dairy farm riding and a rural riding so these are issues I’m familiar with,” she said. Story continues below advertisement “I’m very anxious to be able to talk to all of our partners so we can find some direct solutions.” WATCH: Bibeau won’t say if she wants to see Deferred Prosecution Agreement for SNC-Lavalin 0:41 Bibeau won’t say if she wants to see Deferred Prosecution Agreement for SNC-Lavalin Bibeau won’t say if she wants to see Deferred Prosecution Agreement for SNC-Lavalin – Mar 1, 2019 MacAulay and the other ministers also addressed questions about their colleague, Wilson-Raybould, and her political futures. Trudeau has refused to say whether he will allow Wilson-Raybould to run for the Liberals in the fall election, or whether she will be allowed to remain in caucus. MacAulay largely dodged questions while Bibeau and Monsef both took the chance to state they will trust whatever decision Trudeau makes. “We are working for much more than what’s going on right now,” Bibeau said when asked about the matter. Story continues below advertisement WATCH BELOW: Maryam Monsef takes on International Development portfolio in shuffle 2:03 Maryam Monsef takes on International Development portfolio in shuffle Maryam Monsef takes on International Development portfolio in shuffle – Mar 1, 2019 “This is really what motivates our caucus right now. Whatever decision will be taken by the prime minister or the whip, I will live with. I’m a team player.” Monsef made similar comments, noting it is “ultimately the prime minister’s decision.” “I think the prime minister said it best that he’s going to take the time to reflect on that and I trust that judgement.” WATCH: Ministers say Wilson-Raybould’s resignation has not hurt morale in cabinet 2:35 Ministers say Wilson-Raybould’s resignation has not hurt morale in cabinet Ministers say Wilson-Raybould’s resignation has not hurt morale in cabinet – Mar 1, 2019<doc-sep>Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will shuffle his cabinet on Friday to fill the vacancy created by Jody Wilson-Raybould's departure over the SNC-Lavalin controversy. A high-level government source tells CBC News that the shuffle will be small, involving no more than a handful of ministers. The source also said that the shuffle will be internal, and there will be no new ministers added to cabinet. A second government source says some ministers have been called back to Ottawa to prepare for a Friday morning shuffle. Trudeau has to fill Wilson-Raybould's post at Veterans Affairs. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has been acting in that role since Wilson-Raybould's resignation. The Veterans Affairs ministry was left vacant when Wilson-Raybould resigned from the position Feb. 12. The former justice minister and attorney general of Canada only held the post for a month, having been moved there Jan. 14 after Scott Brison, the former president of the Treasury Board, retired from federal politics. Wilson-Raybould told a parliamentary committee this week she believes she was shuffled out of the Justice Department because she refused to buckle to pressure from 11 officials — from the Prime Minister's Office and other departments — who wanted her to give SNC-Lavalin a way out of bribery and corruption charges. The Quebec-based engineering and infrastructure company was seeking a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, or DPA, that would allow the firm to avoid criminal prosecution, providing it met a number of conditions.<doc-sep>Send this page to someone via email Justin Trudeau is expected to announce a small cabinet shuffle Friday morning following the resignation of Jody Wilson-Raybould earlier this month, Global News has learned. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has served as interim veterans affairs minister since Wilson-Raybould stepped down on Feb. 12. LIVE BLOG: House of Commons holds emergency debate over SNC-Lavalin scandal She resigned from cabinet in the wake of a Globe and Mail report that said she faced pressure to interfere in the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin during her time as attorney general and justice minister. Wilson-Raybould remains in Liberal caucus following her bombshell testimony at the House of Commons justice committee on Wednesday, her first time speaking publicly on the case. Story continues below advertisement WATCH: ‘Don’t understand what’s the big deal,’ Liberal MP says of SNC-Lavalin controversy 0:31 ‘Don’t understand what’s the big deal’: Liberal MP on SNC-Lavalin controversy ‘Don’t understand what’s the big deal’: Liberal MP on SNC-Lavalin controversy – Feb 28, 2019 She said she faced pressure from 11 people, including the prime minister and his staff, to intervene after SNC-Lavalin was not offered a deal to avoid a criminal trial. “For a period of approximately four months, between September and December of 2018, I experienced a consistent and sustained effort by many people within the government to seek to politically interfere … in an inappropriate effort to secure a deferred prosecution agreement with SNC-Lavalin,” she said. The company is facing fraud and corruption charges related to its past operations in Libya. Story continues below advertisement Following Wilson-Raybould’s testimony, Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer called on Trudeau to resign. The prime minister has denied that he or members of his staff acted inappropriately in their discussions on SNC-Lavalin. ​<doc-sep>Share this Story: Trudeau names MacAulay veterans-affairs minister in cabinet shuffle Trudeau names MacAulay veterans-affairs minister in cabinet shuffle Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Bibeau is now responsible for selling recently signed trade agreements to Quebec dairy farmers that will reduce the protective effect of supply management in their industry. She said she’s eager to meet with them. “It’s a huge privilege — I come from a rural riding, a dairy riding, in fact, in the south of Quebec, so I’m very close to the producers in Quebec,” she said outside Rideau Hall after being sworn in as the first female federal agriculture minister. Monsef said she is looking forward to working especially on moving forward with the feminist international development policy Bibeau introduced. “I’m going to continue to ensure that women are the heart of the work that we do. Because when women do well, whether it’s abroad or here in Canada, their families do better and everyone benefits.” MacAulay will take over responsibility for a new veterans-benefits regime the parliamentary budget officer reported last week will mean less generous support for veterans leaving the Canadian Forces. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Like Wilson-Raybould before him, MacAulay said he didn’t see the move to Veterans Affairs as a demotion. “To have the honour to represent the people who preserve peace and democracy for us worldwide, that’s a long piece from a demotion,” he said. Unusually, the official headquarters for the Department of Veterans Affairs is outside the capital region — it’s in Charlottetown, P.E.I., which is MacAulay’s home province. Wilson-Raybould, who was moved from the justice portfolio to veterans affairs in the last federal cabinet shuffle in mid-January, resigned her post Feb. 12. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Trudeau has denied the SNC-Lavalin affair had anything to do with Wilson-Raybould’s move, saying she would still be justice minister had former Treasury Board president Scott Brison not suddenly decided to leave politics. Friday’s shuffle came at the end of a difficult week for the Trudeau government, which saw Wilson-Raybould deliver bombshell testimony to the Commons justice committee. She told the committee she faced relentless, inappropriate pressure from Trudeau and several top aides, the Privy Council Office and the office of Finance Minister Bill Morneau, asking her to politically interfere in the criminal prosecution of Montreal engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. Trudeau’s former top adviser, Gerry Butts — who resigned in an effort to defend the prime minister and the PMO’s actions — is expected to testify before the committee next week. The prime minister faced a barrage of questions all week in the House of Commons and in various public appearances outside of Ottawa on Wilson-Raybould’s allegations. On Friday, Trudeau did not take questions from reporters — a departure from past cabinet shuffle events at Rideau Hall. MacAulay, Bibeau and Monsef told reporters they will support Trudeau’s decision when he determines whether Wilson-Raybould stays in the Liberal caucus after her public criticisms of the way she was treated by Trudeau and his staff. “She’s a very well-respected lady,” MacAulay said of Wilson-Raybould, “but what to do about her place in their party is up to the prime minister.” We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trending<doc-sep>
Three federal ministers have new job titles Friday morning as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to shuffle his cabinet to fill the vacancy created by Jody Wilson-Raybould's resignation over the SNC-Lavalin controversy. P.E.I. MP Lawrence MacAulay, formerly minister of agriculture and agri-food, will take over in Veterans Affairs, while Marie-Claude Bibeau, who until recently was minister of international development, will take over the agriculture file. The Compton–Stanstead MP will be the first female agriculture minister in Canadian history. "It's a huge privilege. I come from a rural riding, a dairy riding, in fact, in the south of Quebec, so I'm very close to the producers in Quebec," she told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. Minister for Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef will take on international development as part of her duties. Wilson-Raybould resigned as minister of Veterans Affairs, a position she was moved to after first entering cabinet as justice minister, on Feb. 12. Ministers questioned on Wilson-Raybould Despite not physically being at Rideau Hall, Wilson-Raybould cast a shadow over the proceedings. The former justice minister told a parliamentary committee earlier this week she believes she was shuffled out of that department because she refused to bend to pressure from 11 officials — including from the Prime Minister's Office — who wanted her to give SNC-Lavalin a way out of bribery and corruption charges. Three shuffled ministers on caucus and cabinet unity CBC News 1:08 Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAulay and Minister of International Development, Women and Gender Equality Maryam Monsef comment on caucus and cabinet unity. 1:08 She had held the Veterans Affairs post for a month, moved there Jan. 14 after Scott Brison, former president of the Treasury Board, retired from federal politics. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan had been acting minister of Veterans Affairs since Wilson-Raybould's resignation. While no longer a member of cabinet, she remains a Liberal MP — at least for now. Trudeau has said he is considering whether Wilson-Raybould can remain in the Liberal caucus. "I have taken knowledge of her testimony and there are still reflections to have on next steps," he told reporters on Thursday. Bibeau on protecting jobs CBC News 0:40 Newly-minted Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau comments on the role of government in protecting jobs. 0:40 MacAulay, Bibeau and Monsef all said they would support Trudeau's decision on whether their former cabinet colleague can stay in caucus. "I can live with any decision," said MacAulay. The Quebec-based engineering and infrastructure company was seeking a deferred prosecution agreement, or DPA, that would allow the firm to avoid criminal prosecution, providing it met a number of conditions. Under the DPA, if those conditions aren't met, criminal prosecution could be pursued. Trudeau has maintained she would still be justice minister if Brison had not stepped down. Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Marie-Claude Bibeau, centre, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Lawrence MacAulay, left, and Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Minister of International Development Maryam Monsef speak to reporters following a cabinet shuffle at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Friday, March 1, 2019. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press) MacAulay becomes the fourth official Veterans Affairs minister since the Liberal government came into power in 2015. Kent Hehr held the role for just under two years before Seamus O'Regan took the reins. He was sent to Indigenous Services in the January cabinet shuffle. "To represent veterans is a distinct honour," said MacAulay, who served as secretary of state for veterans back in the late 1990s. Unlike most federal departments, the official headquarters for the Department of Veterans Affairs is outside the capital region, in Charlottetown.