Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday shuffled his cabinet for the second time in nearly six weeks in response to a political crisis caused by a minister’s resignation who then alleged inappropriate conduct by Canadian officials.
According to Reuters news reports, Canadian PM has moved long-serving agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay to the veterans affairs portfolio in order to replace Jody Wilson-Raybould, who stepped down on February 12 with serving less than a month in power.
Wilson-Raybould was testified on Wednesday that when she was serving as justice minister last year, the Liberal government officials leaned over her to help construction firm SNC-Lavalin group inc in order to avoid a corruption trial.
Wilson’s remark has prompted the leader of the opposition Conservatice Party to demand Prime Minister’s resignation. Polls have shown the affair is beginning to hurt the Liberal party ahead of the federal election scheduled to take place this October.
However, Trudeau who denied any wrongdoing, did not takes any questions from the reporters after the cabinet shuffling, which has saw international development minister Marie-Claude Bibeau replace MacAulay at agriculture post.
Women’s minister Maryam Monsef took on the international development portfolio in addition to her current job.