Canadian Housing Minister Sean Fraser is resigning from cabinet and will not seek re-election in the next federal election, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party as it struggles in the polls ahead of the 2025 vote, Bloomberg reports.
A government official confirmed the news, first reported by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), on condition of anonymity. Fraser is expected to make a formal announcement on Monday.
This high-profile resignation follows several other cabinet departures in recent months and adds pressure on Trudeau, who is already planning a cabinet shuffle. Fraser, previously considered a rising star within the Liberal Party, is one of the most significant departures to date.
The timing of Fraser’s resignation coincides with Trudeau’s renewed efforts to recruit former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney to cabinet. While the outcome of these discussions remains uncertain, a government official indicated that Trudeau is actively pursuing Carney’s involvement. Trudeau has publicly stated his attempts to recruit Carney to politics over several years, and Carney recently agreed to serve as an economic advisor to the Liberal Party.
Fraser’s tenure as housing minister, beginning in 2023, focused on addressing Canada’s housing affordability crisis through increased homebuilding. His previous role as immigration minister oversaw a substantial post-pandemic increase in temporary immigration, which contributed significantly to rising housing prices.
