In a surprising turn of events, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced her resignation from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet on Monday, mere hours before she was scheduled to present the government’s fall economic statement.
This development poses a significant challenge for the government, jeopardizing its economic agenda and creating a substantial void in Trudeau’s cabinet, particularly as support for the Liberal Party has plummeted in recent polls. Freeland’s decision to step down just prior to the release of the economic statement is without precedent.
This statement is intended to serve as the government’s fiscal blueprint during a period of considerable uncertainty, especially as Canada faces the impending tariff threats from president-elect Donald Trump.
In a correspondence directed to Trudeau, which was later shared on her social media platform, the outgoing deputy prime minister expressed that she felt compelled to resign after Trudeau approached her on Friday regarding a reassignment to a different cabinet position. “On Friday, you informed me that you no longer wished for me to continue in my role as Finance Minister and proposed an alternative position within the cabinet,”
Freeland stated in her letter to Trudeau. “After careful consideration, I have determined that the most honest and feasible course of action is for me to step down from the cabinet.” Freeland also criticized Trudeau’s management of the nation’s economy, labeling the government’s initiatives as “expensive political gimmicks” and urging him to collaborate with the provincial premiers to address the tariffs imposed by Trump.
She acknowledged that there had been significant disagreements between herself and Trudeau in recent weeks.
In a surprise move, a senior government official revealed to CBC News that an announcement from Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland was not anticipated today. This development comes on the heels of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent declaration of being a “proud feminist” and his pride in appointing Canada’s first female finance minister. However, just two days after making this statement, Trudeau asked Freeland to step down from her position, effectively removing the most senior woman in government.
The sudden resignation threw the fall economic statement into disarray, causing officials at a media lockup to scramble and figure out how to proceed without the person who was originally scheduled to present the statement. With only hours to spare before the lockup was set to begin, officials announced that an embargoed reading for reporters would still take place, but it remained unclear who would ultimately table the document in Parliament at 4 p.m. ET as planned.
This latest development adds to the challenges faced by Trudeau, who has navigated a tumultuous six months in office.
MPs call on Trudeau to resign
In a growing show of discontent, three more Liberal MPs – René Arseneault, Helena Jaczek, and Chad Collins – have joined the chorus calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
Jaczek, who previously served as Minister of Public Services and Procurement under Trudeau before being reassigned in 2023, expressed her disapproval of Trudeau’s decision to remove Chrystia Freeland as Finance Minister. “Removing a highly competent Finance Minister who has consistently delivered results is not a decision that inspires trust,” Jaczek told reporters, describing the move as “distasteful”.
When asked directly if Trudeau should step down, Jaczek responded “Yes”, indicating that she believes the Prime Minister’s actions have compromised his ability to lead effectively.
Breaking: Chrystia Freeland’s shocking resignation throws Trudeau’s government into crisis mode. Watch as we analyze her scathing resignation letter and what it means for Canada’s political future. It’s the Fall Economic Update speech today but who will deliver it because Chrystia Freeland just resigned this morning. The Trudeau bus is careening out of control and right off the fiscal cliff. Noted Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington joins me today to talk about this and human rights tribunals that are also out of control.
