Ministers Filomena Tassi and Helena Jaczek were reassigned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday in a minor internal cabinet shuffle at Rideau Hall.
Jaczek has been appointed as Canada’s new minister of public services and procurement, while Tassi will take on the less-notable position of minister in charge of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
We’re making two adjustments to the Cabinet – @FilomenaTassi is becoming Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, and @HelenaJaczek is becoming Minister of Public Services and Procurement. More details here: https://t.co/Aa1bHCPSrx
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 31, 2022
Tassi’s request to spend more time in Southern Ontario for family reasons led to a slight restructuring of the Liberal front bench, and the prime minister said on Wednesday that he did not want to make any more changes to his cabinet than were absolutely necessary at this time.
“It’s been less than a year since the last election, and our government is working extremely hard every day to support Canadians and to deliver the support necessary… And that’s the hard work we’re going to continue to,” Following the brief swearing-in ceremony presided over by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, Trudeau stated while being accompanied by the two ministers.
Tassi claimed in a statement that her husband experienced two strokes at the beginning of the previous year.
“As anyone whose family has had a similar experience will know, post-stroke care can be complex and filled with uncertainty.” Tassi claimed that as a minister with cross-Canada responsibilities, she had to “address balancing the needs of my family with the travel commitments” last month when she met with the prime minister.
I am honoured and looking forward to taking on this new responsibility to help grow the economy and create good, well-paying, middle class jobs in Southern Ontario. Please see my full statement here: https://t.co/qpSd3aX33E
— Filomena Tassi (@FilomenaTassi) August 31, 2022
In her new capacity, Minister Tassi “will ensure the continued strength of FedDev Ontario, in turn creating good middle-class jobs, driving clean economic growth in the region, and supporting small and medium-sized businesses for the benefit of everyone in Southern Ontario,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Jaczek was elected to the federal government in 2019 and entered the cabinet in 2021.
Today, the Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau intrusted me with the new role of Minister of Public Services and Procurement. I look forward to ensure federal procurement supports
In her new capacity, she will make better use of the government’s purchasing power to give more Canadians access to economic opportunity while making sure that federal procurement helps the country move to a clean economy. She will also bring knowledge from the health industry and make sure Canada has all the essential supplies it needs to respond to current and upcoming pandemics, according to a PMO announcement.
The prime minister’s cabinet shuffle on Wednesday is the first time he has made changes to his ministerial roster since reorganising who was in charge of key portfolios following the 2021 election.