Two government sources told Le Droit that Mr MacKinnon would be sworn in in a private ceremony at Rideau Hall. This is not a cabinet reshuffle. Mr MacKinnon will temporarily replace Karina Gould, who is on maternity leave.
Neither Mr. MacKinnon nor Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office provided comment.
The member for Gatineau has been the top government leader since 2021.
This appointment is no surprise as it was announced this summer as part of the ministerial reshuffle. Ms Gould had made it clear that she would be away after the holiday period as she was due to give birth in January.
The Head of Government in the House of Representatives is responsible for coordinating the government's activities in the House of Commons and must manage the government's entire legislative program. This is a key position within the company.
However, Mr MacKinnon's arrival comes at a time when recent months have been marked by high tensions in Parliament.
Above all, the cost of living, the real estate crisis and spending controls led to stormy sessions in the House of Commons.
A rare Minister for Outaouais
Steven MacKinnon, who has represented Gatineau in Parliament since 2015, will be only the fifth MP from Outaouais to sit on the Council of Ministers.
The last in line was former Pontiac Conservative MP Lawrence Cannon in 2011. Mr Cannon was appointed to Cabinet by Stephen Harper in 2006 as Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities before moving to the Foreign Office in 2008 until his election defeat in May 2011.
MPs from Outaouais are said to have served in Canada's Council of Ministers
| MPs | Constituencies | Ministries | Years | Political affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steven MacKinnon | Gatineau | Head of government in the House of Commons | 2024- | liberal |
| Lawrence Canon | Pontiac | Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; Foreign Minister | 2006-2011 | Conservative |
| Marcel Masse | Hull Aylmer | President of the Privy Council; Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs; Minister for the Renewal of the Civil Service; Chairman of the Treasury Board; Minister for Infrastructure | 1993-1999 | liberal |
| Paul Raymond Martineau | Pontiac-Témiscamingue | Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys | 1962-1963 | Progressive conservative |
| Alphonse Fournier | hull | Minister of Public Works; Head of government in the House of Commons | 1942-1953 | liberal |
Source: Library of Parliament
Mr MacKinnon became the region's second leader in the House of Commons after Alphonse Fournier in the 1950s. The Liberal MP for Hull had steered the government's legislative agenda from 1948 to 1953.
He was also Minister of Public Works in the governments of William Lyon MacKenzie King and Louis St-Laurent.
Replacing a popular leader
Before she went on maternity leave in December, Ms Gould enjoyed significant support within Liberal ranks. One Liberal source even suggested that she was “hands down the best leader in the room” that Justin Trudeau has had since coming to power.
During a speech at a Liberal end-of-year party, the prime minister spoke at length about Ms. Gould's accomplishments while not mentioning any of his other ministers, according to the Canadian Press.
“We are lucky to have you as a team and as a country,” he said, still according to the news agency, which reported a long ovation.
Ms Gould was particularly noted for scolding Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre over his parliamentary obstruction before the recess.
“I'm going to give him some time off in the corner over the holidays to make sure he can reflect on his actions and what he's doing here in Parliament and what he's doing to Canadians.” Because he has no respect for the House of Representatives, “He has no respect for democracy and in fact he has no respect for Canadians,” she said. She was eight months pregnant at the time.
In addition, the presidency of the House of Commons was plunged into two crises this fall. Again, the leader of the House of Representatives played a key role in the government's response.
First, President Anthony Rota was forced to resign after embarrassing Canada internationally by inviting and honoring a former Nazi soldier during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's official visit to Parliament.
Then, two months after being elected Speaker of the House of Commons, Hull-Aylmer MP Greg Fergus sparked controversy after engaging in party political activity as Speaker, a position in which the incumbent must remain neutral. The Conservatives and the Bloc, who say they have lost confidence in him, have indicated in recent weeks that the House will have to vote on a confidence motion when recess returns at the end of January.
As with Ms Gould, all indications are that Mr MacKinnon will be responsible for this sensitive issue in the House of Commons.