The high-profile Indo-Canadian Sikh politician Bains, who held the innovation, science and industry ministry, stated family, specifically spending time with his two young daughters, as reasons for leaving politics after a long and fruitful run as MP and Minister and a Liberal power player in the important Peel region in Ontario. Bains’ exit clearly points to a much anticipated May election as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hoping to get back to majority government on the heels of his competent handling of the Pandemic as well as doling out billions of dollars to keep Canadians rolling financially.

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor-Founder DESIBUZZCanada 

With News Files

TORONTO – Well liked federal Liberal Minister Navdeep Singh Bains’ sudden exit from the Trudeau government means one thing – that a federal election is happening in May.

The high-profile Indo-Canadian Sikh politician Bains, who held the innovation, science and industry ministry, stated family, specifically spending time with his two young daughters, as reasons for leaving politics after a long and fruitful run as MP and Minister and a Liberal power player in the important Peel region in Ontario.

Bains’ exit clearly points to a much anticipated May election as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is hoping to get back to majority government on the heels of his competent handling of the Pandemic as well as doling out billions of dollars to keep Canadians rolling financially.

Bains’ exit also forced Trudeau to do a minor cabinet shuffle, which saw former astronaut Marc Garneau become his new foreign minister.

"@NavdeepSBains announced that he is stepping down as Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry to spend more time with his family. To fill the opening created by his announcement, we are making the following changes to the Canadian Ministry," Trudeau announced on Twitter on Tuesday.

Bains, who played a key role in Trudeau's leadership bid in 2013, issued a video statement on Tuesday wherein the 43-year-old minister said he was retiring from politics to spend more time with his family.

While he’s out of elected politics himself, Bains said he will continue to "play a part" in the next campaign.

Bains, who was one of the four Sikh cabinet ministers appointed by Trudeau in 2015, also served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister in 2005. He was an MP between 2004 and 2011. Now, Trudeau's Cabinet has only two Sikh ministers.

"Nav has served his communities and his country with all his heart and passion. I am sorry to see my good friend go but his humour and energy comes from his family and now they deserve his time," said Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, who is another Sikh minister in Trudeau's Cabinet.

Garneau was moved from the transport ministry to the foreign ministry, while François-Philippe Champagne has replaced Bains as minister of innovation, science and industry.

"From his work as an astronaut to his time within government, Minister Garneau has always been a strong voice for Canada around the world," Trudeau said. "From leading Canada's efforts on the Safer Skies Initiative to his work on the Canada-US Relations Cabinet Committee, Marc will bring a great deal of experience to his new portfolio." The 71-year-old minister became the first Canadian in space when he flew aboard the US space shuttle in 1984.

"Garneau will bring experience acquired during his close work with international partners on the investigation into the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 tragedy and as chair of the Cabinet Committee on Canada-United States Relations to his new portfolio, and will continue to be a leader on the world stage," the prime minister said.

Parliamentary Secretary Omar Alghabra was appointed as the transport minister.

"With an engineering background and a history of advocating for public transit in the GTA, I know Omar will do an outstanding job in this new role,” he said.

Trudeau last shuffled his Cabinet in August last year after then finance minister Bill Morneau stepped down from his position following a controversy.