FOLLOWING the turmoil that resulted following the abrupt resignation of Chrystia Freeland after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told her he did not want her to serve as finance minister and offered her another position, Trudeau on Friday morning announced a major shuffle of his cabinet.

Dominic LeBlanc, who was sworn in as the new Finance Minister on Monday after Freeland quit the cabinet, retained his portfolio as had been expected.

Eight new ministers were sworn in and four other existing cabinet members were reassigned.

Changes to the cabinet:

* Anita Anand becomes Minister of Transport and Internal Trade

* Gary Anandasangaree becomes Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency

* Steven MacKinnon becomes Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

* Ginette Petitpas Taylor becomes President of the Treasury Board

* Rachel Bendayan becomes Minister of Official Languages and Associate Minister of Public Safety

* Élisabeth Brière becomes Minister of National Revenue

* Terry Duguid becomes Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada

* Nathaniel Erskine-Smith becomes Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

* Darren Fisher becomes Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

* David McGuinty becomes Minister of Public Safety

* Ruby Sahota becomes Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

*Joanne Thompson becomes Minister of Seniors

Meanwhile, The Globe and Mail newspaper reported on Thursday night that Trudeau was in discussions with close advisers about whether he should stay on as leader. Several cabinet ministers are campaigning to persuade him to stay and overcome mounting calls to quit, and three sources said he is reflecting on his future but will not decide on whether to stay or leave until early in the new year, the newspaper said.