Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed Nathaniel (Nate) Erskkine-Smith as the new federal housing minister Friday.,

Erskine-Smith replaces Sean Fraser who resigned earlier in the week because he does not plan to seek re-election in his Nova Scotia riding. The new housing minister had previously been a backbencher.

Erskine-Smith is the MP for the Toronto riding of Beaches-East York. He had also announced his intention to leave politics but later changed his mind. He intends to run again for the embattled Liberals.

“I understand there’s going to be a short runway,” Erskine-Smith told reports at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. The Liberals are expected to face an election in early 2025 as Trudeau faces pressure to resign after NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh vowed to introduce a non-confidence motion.

Other parties have threatened to do likewise. If it passes, a non-confidence motion would bring the minority Liberal government down.

Picture: New Housing Minister Nathaniel Erskine-Smith

Photo: Supplied