Former Trudeau cabinet minister criticizes PMO over access to prime minister

Former foreign affairs minister Marc Garneau has criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his office, expressing doubts about whether his messages ever reached the prime minister directly. In an interview on Rosemary Barton Live, Garneau said he felt the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) often acted as a "filter," and that certain ministers, such as Trudeau's childhood friends, had closer access to him.

"There are times when a minister wants to speak directly with the prime minister," Garneau explained. "Even though Trudeau said his door was always open, I never felt that he truly encouraged it," he told CBC's chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.

Garneau served in Trudeau’s cabinet from 2015 to 2021, first as transport minister and later as foreign affairs minister, before being removed in a 2021 cabinet shuffle. He remained a member of Parliament until March 2023.

In his forthcoming autobiography, A Most Extraordinary Ride: Space, Politics and the Pursuit of a Canadian Dream, set to be released in October by Penguin Random House, Garneau reflects on his political career. He writes that he was "surprised" to be named transport minister but quickly developed a passion for the role.

However, Garneau noted that in their limited conversations, Trudeau "did not seek my opinion on any issues." He added that the prime minister showed little interest in the transport portfolio unless a problem arose.

When Garneau was unexpectedly moved to foreign affairs, he found that the new role did not improve his access to Trudeau. He recalls being consulted directly only once—during a meeting with then-ambassador to China Dominic Barton—regarding the imprisoned Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.

"The prime minister's aloofness led me to conclude that he did not value my advice enough to hear from me directly, relying on his staff instead," Garneau wrote, describing the experience as "disappointing."

In the interview, Garneau also shared his frustration at being removed from cabinet without explanation. "It was a punch in the gut. I was very disappointed," he said, adding that he had many plans for foreign affairs that he couldn’t carry out.

Though he did not comment on whether Trudeau should step down as leader, Garneau acknowledged that the prime minister "doesn't like to give up" and remains determined to fight. "We'll see what happens," he said.

Garneau expressed concern about Canada's diminishing international standing, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, where he believes the country lacks sufficient understanding of its counterparts.

"We want to be a voice heard on the world stage, but we don’t have the credibility to match our words," he remarked. He pointed to Canada’s neglect of its armed forces, hindering its ability to contribute to global security.

Although the Liberal government announced in July that it aims to meet NATO's 2% defense spending target by 2032, Garneau highlighted other areas where Canada has faltered. He cited the country's failed bid for a United Nations Security Council seat in 2020 and its exclusion from key international partnerships like AUKUS and the Quad as evidence that Canada's influence is "slipping."

"If that’s the path we’re on, then we must accept that we won't be taken as seriously as we’d like," Garneau concluded.