Labour Minister Seamus O害羞草研究所橰egan is stepping down from cabinet and will not be seeking re-election in the next federal contest, the Prime Minister害羞草研究所檚 Office confirmed Thursday.
A statement from that office said a replacement for O害羞草研究所橰egan would be sworn in at Rideau Hall on Friday.
害羞草研究所淭he prime minister extends his sincere thanks to Minister O害羞草研究所橰egan for his exceptional leadership and dedication to making life better for Canadians, including for unions, workers and organized labour,害羞草研究所� the statement read.
O害羞草研究所橰egan will remain the MP representing the Newfoundland riding of St. John害羞草研究所檚 South-Mount Pearl until the next election, which is set to take place by fall 2025.
A source with knowledge of the matter said a broader cabinet shuffle is not expected to take place.
In a statement on Thursday, O害羞草研究所橰egan said his family comes first and he needs to be a better husband, son, uncle and friend.
害羞草研究所淢y friend Seamus has been a pragmatic voice and a relentless advocate around the cabinet table. But to do that work well, you have to sacrifice a lot, and ask so much of your family. I respect his decision whole-heartedly,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said in a social-media post.
O害羞草研究所橰egan had alluded to the need to spend more time with family in a speech last month in Toronto.
His father died during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he is a caregiver for his mother, who lives in St. John害羞草研究所檚.
O害羞草研究所橰egan told the Canadian Club Toronto crowd that he always has his phone volume turned up in case it rings and it害羞草研究所檚 his mom on the line.
害羞草研究所淚f, God forbid, something happens to mom right now in St. John害羞草研究所檚, I害羞草研究所檓 the first one to get the call. I害羞草研究所檓 number one on her lifeline害羞草研究所� he said in his address.
O害羞草研究所橰egan, 53, was elected as a member of Parliament in 2015 and has served as a minister since 2017, overseeing several portfolios.
He took on his current portfolio in 2021 and was the federal point person on labour issues as several major strikes unfolded.
That included a national walk-out involving thousands of federal public servants last year, as well as a strike at Canada害羞草研究所檚 busiest port in Vancouver, where the movement of billions of dollars in trade stalled during an extended impasse.
As a cabinet minister, O害羞草研究所橰egan introduced multiple government bills. Most recently, he shepherded legislation to ban replacement workers during strikes and lockouts, a New Democrat priority and the fulfilment of a decades-long push from unions.
While serving in the Indigenous services portfolio, he oversaw a bill that sought to give Indigenous groups and communities jurisdiction over child and family services.
害羞草研究所淪o much of my work in politics has been about dignity,害羞草研究所� O害羞草研究所橰egan said in a speech to the Canadian Club Toronto last month.
害羞草研究所淒ignity for veterans, dignity for Indigenous peoples, dignity for workers.害羞草研究所�
When O害羞草研究所橰egan was veterans affairs minister, Trudeau apologized on behalf of Canada for decades of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community 害羞草研究所� an occasion for the minister to open up about his own identity as a gay man.
O害羞草研究所橰egan shared that it wasn害羞草研究所檛 until after he became an MP and went through rehabilitation for alcohol addiction in late 2015 that he realized his sexuality was connected to his substance abuse.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 the battle that is fought on, 害羞草研究所楾his is my identity, this is who I am,害羞草研究所澓π卟菅芯克鶛 O害羞草研究所橰egan told The Canadian Press in 2017.
害羞草研究所淭here is also the battle of, 害羞草研究所榃ho the hell is the government to tell me who to love? Who the hell is the government to tell me who I can害羞草研究所檛 love?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
O害羞草研究所橰egan was previously known to many Canadians as a journalist and for his 10 years as co-host of CTV害羞草研究所檚 Canada AM.
Before entering politics, he was already a longtime friend of Trudeau害羞草研究所檚, having been a member of the prime minister害羞草研究所檚 wedding party when he got married in 2005.
O害羞草研究所橰egan and his husband Stelios Doussis also travelled with Trudeau on a family vacation to the Bahamas in 2016.
