Canada’s finance minister has resigned from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, lambasting him on her way out. In her resignation letter, Chrystia Freeland made it clear that it was President-elect Donald Trump who drove them apart.
Her resignation is sending shockwaves through Trudeau’s own Liberal Party in Canada, where many are questioning how long he can — or should — hang onto power.
“Let’s put it this way,” Liberal member of Parliament Helena Jaczek said to CBC. “Firing a minister of finance who has served you extremely well is not what I would call a trustworthy move.”
“I’ve been a great defender but I just don’t see how we move forward,” Liberal member of Parliament Francis Drouin added. “I think he needs to go, yeah.”
Freeland wrote in her letter that Trump’s tariff policy presents a “grave challenge” to Canada, saying, “The incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism.”
His 25% tariff threat is one she says they need to take “extremely seriously… That means pushing back against ‘America First.’”
Trump posted on Truth Social, “Her behavior was totally toxic, and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!”
Trudeau has named Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc as Canada’s new finance minister. Trudeau had taken LeBlanc to Mar-a-Lago to meet and dine with Trump last month. Freeland did not go on the trip.
Freeland’s resignation letter revealed that Trudeau told her days ago he no longer wanted her to serve as finance minister but offered a different cabinet position. She said the only “honest and viable path” was for her to resign, saying the two found themselves “at odds about the best path forward for Canada.”
See my letter to the Prime Minister below // Veuillez trouver ma lettre au Premier ministre ci-dessous pic.twitter.com/NMMMcXUh7A
— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) December 16, 2024
Trudeau has been Canada’s prime minister since 2015. As leader of the Liberal Party, his popularity has taken serious hits in recent years.
In a December Ipsos poll, only 23% say Trudeau deserves reelection while 77% say it’s time for a new party to take control.
A high 34% said Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre is best suited to represent Canada’s interests with a new Trump administration, the highest chunk. Only 22% said the same about Trudeau.
![RIA Novosti [🇷🇺-affiliated] logo](https://groundnews.b-cdn.net/interests/2a0109015009cf4c268971a719f58598126b4051.jpg)
