By Paul Vieira
OTTAWA--Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will make changes to his cabinet Tuesday as one of his economic ministers doesn't plan to run for re-election in a vote that could happen this year.
Navdeep Bains, the country's industry minister, won't seek re-election and has decided to leave cabinet immediately. In a video posted on his official Twitter account, Mr. Bains said he needed to spend more time with his family, adding the past year has been difficult for his young daughters.
Mr. Trudeau is scheduled to hold a press conference in Ottawa just after 11 a.m. ET Tuesday, once changes to the cabinet are unveiled.
The shakeup to the cabinet comes on the day the Liberal government was to begin a cabinet retreat. In recent days, speculation has mounted in Ottawa that a federal election is in the offing this year. Mr. Trudeau's Liberal Party won re-election in 2019 although with a reduced minority mandate, meaning it requires the support of another party to pass legislation and stay in power.
In a radio interview last week, Mr. Trudeau said a national vote could happen this year, although adding his main goal is to help navigate the country through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Weekly poll tracking from Ottawa-based Nanos Research indicates the Liberal Party enjoys the support of 40% of voters, versus 27% for the second-place Conservative Party. Under Canada's electoral system, 40% support would likely result in a Liberal majority government.
Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
01-12-21 0853ET
