Filomena Tassi, Helena Jaczek swap roles in minor cabinet shuffle

Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau made a minor shuffle to his cabinet on Wednesday, Aug. 31. 

Two cabinet ministers from Ontario, Filomena Tassi and Helena Jaczek, officially swapped roles in a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Tassi moves from the Procurement Department to become the minister responsible for Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, while Helena Jaczek moved to the procurement portfolio.

Tassi requested a lighter role in cabinet due to family health matters and explained her request in released statement.

“Early last year, my husband suffered two strokes,” the statement reads. “I met with the PM last month to discuss balancing the needs of my family with the travel demands on me.”

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“I will continue to help create more opportunities of Canadians and their businesses while also being able to remain closer to home.”

The shuffle takes place just a week before a cabinet retreat ahead of the return of parliament next month

There are currently 38 ministers in the cabinet, not including Trudeau himself.