Two more Trudeau cabinet members will not seek re-election

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani and Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development of Canada Mary Ng are seen in this composite image. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

As the Liberal Party searches for its next leader, two more members of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet have announced they will not seek re-election.

Justice Minister Arif Virani and International Trade Minister Mary Ng join several high-profile Liberal MPs over the past 12 months who have decided against seeking another term.

“I say this with a heavy heart, and after considerable soul searching for the past several weeks,” Virani said in a statement posted Monday to X. “But after the next election, my fight for Canada will no longer take place from inside the House of Commons.”

Virani, who was appointed to Trudeau’s cabinet in 2023, thanked the outgoing prime minister for the opportunity to serve first as a parliamentary secretary, then as a cabinet minister. Virani also described the sacrifices he and his family have had to make while working in politics.

“My family has given so much to allow me to pursue my dreams of serving not only our community, but our nation. It is my turn now to give back to the people I love the most,” said Virani.

Virani’s decision not to run in the next election opens up a Liberal nomination race in his Toronto riding of Parkdale-High Park, a seat the Liberals wrestled back from the NDP in the 2015 election.

Ng, who has served in cabinet since 2018, did not provide a reason for why she was not seeking re-election.

“I’m deeply grateful to my dedicated Constituency and Ministerial teams, my cabinet colleagues who exemplified true teamwork, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose leadership reminds us daily that our mission is to make Canada better for everyone,” said Ng in a statement Monday posted to X.

Ng was elected as MP for Markham-Thornhill in a 2017 byelection, replacing former Liberal cabinet minister John McCallum.