Carney chief of staff's time in cabinet, stance on Gaza under scrutiny

Both the Conservatives and NDP are criticizing prime minister-designate Mark Carney's choice to appoint former public safety minister Marco Mendicino as chief of staff during the transition — one party bringing up the controversy that forced him out of cabinet and the other, his staunch pro-Israel support.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh posted on the social media platform X on Wednesday afternoon about a ceasefire motion his party had presented in Parliament last year.

A watered-down version of it passed, with all Liberals on board other than three MPs, including Mendicino.

"In that moment, Marco Mendicino had a choice. He chose to side with Netanyahu," Singh wrote, referring to the Israeli prime minister. 

"Now, Mark Carney has appointed him as his chief of staff — his closest adviser and in one of the most powerful positions in his government. I cannot imagine the pain and hurt this has caused so many of you."

Earlier this week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre zeroed in on Mendicino's past tenure in cabinet. Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had named him immigration minister in 2019 and public safety minister in 2021. 

Mendicino was shuffled out of cabinet in 2023, after facing calls for his resignation over serial killer Paul Bernardo's transfer to a medium-security prison. 

"He's the guy forced to resign," Poilievre said, noting that controversy as well as accusing Mendicino of doing "nothing to stop Beijing's foreign interference in Canada's democracy," and helping break Canada's immigration system. 

Carney told caucus Mendicino's role is temporary: sources

Carney addressed Liberal caucus members during a meeting on Monday.

Two Liberal MPs told CBC News Carney explained during his speech that Mendicino's new role is temporary.

The MPs spoke on condition they not be named, as they were not allowed to publicly comment on the contents of the meeting.

One of them told CBC News that multiple caucus members are unhappy about Mendicino's appointment for a variety of reasons, ranging from his appointment opening up avenues for criticism by the Conservatives, to his pro-Israel stance during a conflict where more than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed. 

Mendicino, who is still the Liberal MP for the Toronto riding of Eglinton-Lawrence, walked into the caucus meeting himself after earlier attending a briefing between Trudeau and Carney.

He did not answer questions from the media, and one of the MPs who spoke to CBC News said he was quiet during the gathering as well. 

Some Liberals defend Mendicino

Some Liberal MPs defended Mendicino getting named to the job. 

"He has the experience of an MP. In fact, it would be interesting to see through history chiefs of staff to leaders who have served as members of Parliament, adds a perspective that I think would do caucus very well," said Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal MP for London North Centre.

"Marco is a good colleague," said Fisheries and Oceans Minister Diane Lebouthillier. "Any minister can lose their position in cabinet." 

"I know Marco very well," said Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. "He's a man who knows how the administration of the Canadian government works very well. He has solid experience, that's why he's here for the transition and he'll be important in the next few days."

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), one of the larger political advocacy groups representing Muslims in Canada, also criticized Mendicino's appointment, urging its supporters to send emails to Carney asking him to explain why he appointed Mendicino.

The NCCM highlighted his vote on the ceasefire motion, and pointed out how Mendicino has shared social media posts from a past leader of the Jewish Defence League, a group that the FBI called a "violent extremist" organization in 2001. 

 CBC News requested comment from both Mendicino and Carney's office for this story, but did not receive a response. 

When Mendicino announced in early January he would not be seeking re-election, he wrote in a statement that he has "disagreed with the current direction of the federal government on our foreign policy vis-a-vis our deteriorated relations with the state of Israel, our inadequate handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and our enfeebled role in the Middle East."

He wrote that "as a matter of principle, I have been consistently outspoken in my condemnation of the unjust targeting of the Jewish community."

Tuesday evening, Carney made a rare public statement about the Middle East, calling on Israel to resume supplying electricity into Gaza.

"Essentials including food, electricity and medical supplies should never be used as political tools," he wrote.