Opposition parties slam Trudeau cabinet’s future appointments to government agencies

Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing pressure from Green Party Co-Leader Elizabeth May to review a series of future appointments made by the previous government. May expressed concerns about the large number of last-minute appointments made by Justin Trudeau’s government, suggesting that accepting these appointments without scrutiny could create negative political optics.

May drew parallels to past instances where such appointments had backfired, including those made by Pierre Trudeau in 1984 that had a negative impact on Liberal Leader John Turner. She emphasized the importance of avoiding the perception that the government was favoring political allies at the expense of transparency and good governance.

CBC News recently reported that Trudeau’s government had filled government agencies and Crown corporations with numerous future appointments and early appointment renewals, many of which would only take effect after the upcoming election. This revelation has raised concerns about the potential for these appointments to be used as ammunition against Carney during the election campaign.

May urged Carney to take swift action to review and potentially overturn these appointments to avoid any backlash from the public. She suggested that a proactive approach in addressing these appointments would demonstrate a commitment to accountability and fairness.

NDP MP Niki Ashton also criticized the future appointments, highlighting the need for the government to prioritize economic issues and support Canadian workers. She called for a reconsideration of the appointments that had not yet taken effect, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the well-being of Canadians in the face of economic challenges.

Conservative Opposition House leader Andrew Scheer joined in the criticism, accusing Trudeau’s government of providing lucrative positions to Liberal insiders in its final days. However, he did not address the similar actions taken by the previous Harper government in its final days.

As the debate over these future appointments continues, Carney will need to navigate the political minefield carefully to ensure that his government upholds its commitment to transparency and accountability. By reviewing and potentially revising these appointments, Carney can demonstrate his commitment to fair governance and avoid potential criticism during the upcoming election.