Liberal MP Nate Erskine-Smith says he feels “disrespected” after being dropped from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s newly formed cabinet Tuesday.
The Beaches-East York representative, who previously served as housing minister under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, was among 10 ministers who didn’t retain their positions in the cabinet shuffle.
“It’s impossible not to feel disrespected,” Erskine-Smith said in a statement. “But I’m mostly disappointed that my team and I won’t have the chance to build on all we accomplished with only a short runway.”
The reorganization follows last month’s election where Liberals increased their seat count to 170, just short of a majority. Carney has dramatically changed the cabinet’s composition, adding 24 new faces — 15 ministers and nine secretaries of state.
New appointees include Julie Dabrusin as environment minister, former broadcaster Evan Solomon as artificial intelligence minister, and Mandy Gull-Masty, former grand chief of the Grand Council of the Crees, as Indigenous services minister.
Erskine-Smith, first elected in 2015, has been known as an outspoken MP who occasionally voted against party lines. In January 2024, he announced plans to leave federal politics but reversed course when appointed to Trudeau’s cabinet in December.
Sharan Kaur, former deputy chief of staff for Bill Morneau, criticized Erskine-Smith’s reaction on social media, writing that “Being in cabinet is a privilege, not an entitlement.”
Despite his disappointment, Erskine-Smith said he’ll now focus on representing his constituents, restarting his podcast, and returning to Parliament “with a renewed sense of freedom.”
Other cabinet members removed include former defense minister Bill Blair, former energy minister Jonathan Wilkinson, and former environment minister Terry Duguid.
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