Marco Mendicino, a former high-ranking cabinet minister in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, announced that he will not run in the next federal election. Mendicino, who represented the Toronto riding of Eglinton—Lawrence, expressed gratitude for the support of his constituents but stated that it was the right decision for him and his family to step away from politics at this time. Mendicino was first elected in 2015 and held various ministerial positions, including immigration minister and public safety minister. One of Mendicino’s significant actions as public safety minister was introducing firearms legislation in May 2022 that aimed to address gun violence in Canada.
Mendicino faced controversy during his time as public safety minister, particularly regarding his handling of the transfer of notorious killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security facility. This decision sparked public outrage, with many calling for it to be reversed. Mendicino issued directives to the correctional service to improve communication regarding high-profile offenders’ transfers and ensured that victims’ families were included in the process. Despite these efforts, the decision to transfer Bernardo was upheld as sound and in compliance with laws and policies. Mendicino also faced criticism for his handling of the Emergencies Act during the “Freedom Convoy” protests in Ottawa, which led to his removal from the cabinet in July 2023.
In his statement announcing his decision not to run in the next election, Mendicino highlighted his disagreements with the federal government’s foreign policy, particularly regarding the treatment of the Jewish community and rising antisemitism. Mendicino advocated for a stronger stance against antisemitism and criticized the government’s approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While Mendicino did not reveal his plans post-politics, community leaders have encouraged him to continue playing a leadership role in Toronto. Mendicino’s decision not to seek re-election comes at a time of turmoil within the Liberal caucus, with several key members stepping down and calls for Trudeau to resign as leader.
The Liberal caucus has experienced significant changes recently, including the resignation of Chrystia Freeland as finance minister and deputy prime minister. Freeland’s departure was attributed to disagreements with Trudeau over handling the country’s finances in response to threats of tariffs from the U.S. president-elect. Trudeau shuffled his cabinet in response, appointing Dominic LeBlanc as Freeland’s replacement and making additional changes to fill vacant positions left by departing MPs. Several Liberal MPs, including Mendicino, announced they would not run in the next election, signaling a shift within the party and increasing pressure on Trudeau to consider stepping down as leader. The next federal election is scheduled to take place before October, and the Liberal Party faces challenges in maintaining unity and addressing the concerns of its members and constituents.
