PM Trudeau to name new cabinet in October, Parliament to meet this fall

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that he intends to name his new cabinet in October, bring Parliament back 'before the end of fall,' and implement the promised federal vaccine mandate as soon as possible. Chrystia Freeland will continue as deputy prime Minister and finance minister, Trudeau said.

At his first major press conference since the Sept. 20 federal election, which saw Canadians hand the Liberals another minority, Trudeau said Tuesday that he spoke earlier that day with Gov. Gen. Mary May Simon about his intention to form the next government.

“We just got through an election where Canadians made it very clear the kinds of things they want us to work on, and I'm looking forward to getting into it,” Trudeau said. "The exact dates still to be worked out, but we are busy getting into the business of delivering on an ambitious agenda that Canadians laid out.”

The prime minister said it has been a busy first week post-election, citing the recent freeing of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor as well as having calls with provincial premiers and U.S. President Joe Biden.

Heading into the 44th Parliament, the Liberals will have 159 seats, which is four more than they went into the campaign with. The Conservative seat count has not changed, with 119 MPs elected, the Bloc Quebecois and NDP both gained one seat with 33 and 25 MPs elected respectively, while the Green Party will continue to hold two of the 338 seats in the House of Commons.