In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, Wernick said he will retire before this fall’s federal election campaign kicks off. Trudeau said he intends to name Ian Shugart, currently deputy minister of foreign affairs, to replace Wernick. ——NEW BRUNSWICK TORIES TO HAND DOWN FIRST BUDGETNew Brunswick’s minority Tory government is set to table its first budget today and is warning to expect the hard decisions needed to balance the province’s books. Finance Minister Ernie Steeves says the province is paying almost $700 million a year to service its approximately $14-billion debt. Steeves says he thinks it’s urgent the government balance the budget and try to pay down the net debt.

Source: National Post March 19, 2019 08:15 UTC