Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan Resigns from Cabinet
In a surprising turn of events, Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan has announced his resignation from the cabinet. The 53-year-old Newfoundland and Labrador MP is stepping down due to family reasons but plans to continue serving as a member of Parliament until the next federal election, after which he will not seek re-election.
O’Regan’s departure marks the end of a significant political career. He was first elected to Parliament in 2015, representing St. John’s South-Mount Pearl. Since joining the cabinet in 2017, O’Regan has held various key portfolios, including natural resources, Indigenous services, and veterans affairs, before taking on the role of labour minister in 2021.
Before his political career, O’Regan was a well-known media personality, serving as the host of the CTV morning show Canada AM and a national correspondent for the network. He is also a longtime friend of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, having been part of Trudeau’s wedding party in 2005.
The government is expected to announce O’Regan’s replacement in the cabinet on Friday. Trudeau and his cabinet are scheduled to meet the same day, in what sources indicate will be a brief virtual meeting focused on filling unoccupied appointments. This meeting follows the Liberals’ unexpected byelection loss to the Conservatives in Toronto-St. Paul’s, a former party stronghold.
O’Regan’s resignation adds to the growing list of changes within Trudeau’s cabinet as the government navigates its way through recent political challenges.