The news that this Monday promised to make headlines in the Canadian media was the announcement of the budget update by Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the North American country. However, hours before this appointment, which was finally cancelled, Freeland published a letter on social media addressed to Justin Trudeau presenting her resignation from her positions. Different media analyzes have been pointing out divergences between Freeland and Trudeau for days, but no one expected an announcement with so much gunpowder that it increases the crisis between the liberal forces in a pre-electoral scenario.
In the letter, Chrystia Freeland was clear, telling the prime minister: “In recent weeks, we have disagreed about the best path forward for Canada.” This point had already been advanced by the newspaper The Globe and Mail and Canadian public television. These tensions have had to do with some Government initiatives that, according to critical voices, threaten to irremediably increase public spending. Such has been the case with the federal tax exemption on a list of items for a few weeks to help Canadians with their Christmas shopping. Both this measure and the project to send a $250 check to millions of households in the country in April to support their wallets have been considered electoralist.
Freeland, who had pledged for months not to continue increasing the deficit, indicated in her resignation document: “We must avoid costly political tricks that we cannot afford and that make Canadians doubt that we recognize the current gravity.” She also said that the prime minister had informed her last Friday that she was going to be removed from the Finance portfolio, proposing that she take the helm of another Ministry, although of lesser importance. Freeland rejected Trudeau’s proposal, citing “a loss of trust.” The country’s media had already pointed out in the same way that the Canadian premier has long tried to convince Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada, to head the Finance Department. However, Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, will assume the financial portfolio left by Freeland.
Since June, eight ministers in the Trudeau Government have resigned or announced that they will not run again as candidates in the next election. However, Freeland’s decision plays in other leagues. Before assuming the finance portfolio and becoming deputy prime minister, Freeland was foreign minister. He was in charge of the renegotiations of the North American trade agreement with the United States and Mexico, the T-MEC, in addition to playing a relevant role in Canadian aid to Ukraine due to the invasion of Russia. In each crisis, Freeland reiterated her unconditional support for the prime minister. In fact, this former journalist’s jump into politics came at the invitation of Trudeau himself.
Despite the sharp decline in his popularity, Trudeau has insisted that he will seek a fourth term at the polls. According to the most recent polls, the Conservative Party of Canada enjoys a lead of about 20 percentage points over the prime minister’s Liberals. Canada is in a pre-election scenario. The next federal election is scheduled for October 2025, but could be brought forward due to Trudeau’s party governing as a minority.
A few weeks ago, a group of liberal deputies asked their leader to reconsider his intentions to run again as a candidate. In those moments of tension, Freeland made public her support for Trudeau’s aspirations. This Monday, she indicated that although she is resigning from her two ministerial positions, she will continue as a deputy and will seek re-election in the Ontario constituency, which she has represented since 2015. Many interpret this gesture as a way of announcing that she may be an option for later occupy the leadership of the party.
Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservatives, asked this Monday to bring forward the elections as soon as possible, stressing that Canada must have a “strong Government” at a time when Donald Trump threatens to impose 25% tariffs. “Justin Trudeau has lost the trust of Canadians,” said Poilievre, putting special emphasis on Freeland’s resignation. “Everything has gotten out of control,” he added. Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party, declared that Trudeau must resign. “The Trudeau Government is over. You must recognize it and act accordingly,” said Yves-François Blanchet, head of the Quebec Bloc.
The prime minister has not yet commented on Freeland’s resignation. He had never received such a loud slam of the door in his office. Trudeau not only loses his right arm in government tasks, since Chrystia Freeland also represents a symbol among many liberals, inside and outside the country.
