Former Justice Minister David Lametti is set to depart from his role as principal secretary to Prime Minister Mark Carney after a brief tenure, according to sources familiar with the matter as reported by CBC News. Lametti, who shared the ice with Carney during their time at the University of Oxford playing hockey, had announced his appointment in July through a social media post featuring a picture of himself alongside the prime minister.
The role of principal secretary is highly esteemed within the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and plays a pivotal part in managing Carney’s political and policy initiatives. Lametti was also involved as an advisor during the recent federal election campaign. He was brought in to take over from Tom Pitfield, who had been serving in an interim capacity and has yet to vacate the PMO.
Previously representing the Montreal riding of LaSalle-Émard-Verdun, Lametti had served as the justice minister in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration until his removal from the cabinet in 2023. Confidential sources disclosed to CBC News that Lametti is being considered for a diplomatic assignment, a notion supported by three of the sources.
Requests for comments from the PMO regarding Lametti’s departure went unanswered at the time of reporting. When probed about his potential exit and future endeavors, Lametti declined to provide any insights, stating “no comment.” His resignation would mark another departure of a former minister from the Trudeau era, following Chrystia Freeland’s recent exit from the cabinet.
Carney recently disclosed that Freeland would assume the role of Canada’s special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine, a newly established position by the prime minister. Despite maintaining her status as a Member of Parliament (MP), Freeland is anticipated to resign from her seat at a later date. As part of the government’s efforts to distinguish itself from the previous administration, two additional former cabinet ministers are expected to step down in the near future.
The Globe and Mail initially reported that former defense minister Bill Blair is poised to be appointed as the high commissioner to the United Kingdom. Likewise, former energy minister Jonathan Wilkinson is under consideration for a diplomatic role in Europe, with ongoing discussions involving him. Both Wilkinson and Blair, who previously held significant roles in the Trudeau government, were not included in Carney’s cabinet.
Blair, when questioned about a possible diplomatic assignment, emphasized his commitment to serving his community and the government. Similarly, Wilkinson conveyed his focus on his responsibilities in the House of Commons and his constituency in a written statement. The timing for the public announcement of their appointments remains uncertain, with considerations likely to align with the upcoming federal budget release and subsequent critical votes in the minority Parliament.