Trudeau Government Makes Last-Minute Appointments as Leadership Change Looms
Just days before the Liberal Party selects a new leader, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet has approved approximately 70 federal appointments, including positions for 12 judges, according to a report by The Globe and Mail.
The appointments, approved during a virtual cabinet meeting on Thursday, come amid a flurry of major policy announcements as Trudeau’s tenure draws to a close. The Prime Minister’s office declined to comment on the specific positions filled.
The rush of appointments comes just days before the Liberal Party selects Trudeau’s successor this Sunday. The new Liberal leader is widely expected to call an election before Parliament’s scheduled resumption on March 24, leaving little time for legislative review of these decisions.
When asked Thursday about securing his legacy, Trudeau said the government’s main focus is ending the tariff war with the United States. He then reflected on his father’s enduring impact through policies like the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, official bilingualism, and multiculturalism.
“Perhaps it’s the example of having heard all my life about a small handful of things that my father was able to do as prime minister that continue to have an impact in people’s lives today,” he said.
Thursday’s cabinet decisions follow a pattern of significant announcements in recent days. The government unveiled a $37-billion agreement with provinces and territories to expand the $10-a-day child care program and plans to announce next steps for a $1-billion National Food Program on Friday.
The practice of making last-minute appointments has historical precedent but has typically faced criticism. In 2015, when Stephen Harper’s government made similar appointments before leaving office, then-Liberal House Leader Dominic LeBlanc urged appointees to decline their positions.
More problematically, Justin Trudeau’s father made approximately 200 patronage appointments before stepping down, which damaged his successor John Turner politically when Turner declined to reverse them.
Two former Clerks of the Privy Council, Kevin Lynch and Mel Cappe, have recently voiced concerns about the current government making major announcements while Parliament is prorogued and an election appears imminent.
The details of which positions were filled Thursday remain unclear, though sources indicate they include roles on federal agencies, tribunals, port authorities, and Crown corporations. Most cabinet appointments eventually become public in a database of orders-in-council.
The judicial appointments follow criticism the government faced for delays in filling vacancies. In early 2023, nearly 10% of federal judicial positions remained unfilled, prompting Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Wagner to warn the Prime Minister that access to justice was at risk.
The Globe and Mail also noted that five Senate vacancies — representing New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario — remain unfilled. Unlike other appointments, Senate selections are the sole responsibility of the Prime Minister.
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There should be a law in place to prevent favours like this. Just look at the US. Judges should be appointed as required not in the planned manner. The Senate especially the same. It is not needed. The position of Gov generals the same. These are dead wood positions and really are there for the party rather than the country.
Better to have dealt with immigration and the false visas. Better had JP acted in the last 5 years in the interests of the people, as he has the last few weeks. Finally JP pops failed to listen to the people and really the charter should have been left in the UK. Aince its arrival it has allowed sustained abuse in this country especially abuse, that actually fails to support Canadians in their own country as citizens. Will we ever learn from the errors of the past? ,