Canada’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland unexpectedly resigned due to disagreements with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, criticizing his proposed spending increases as "political gimmicks."
Her resignation came just hours before she was scheduled to present a fall economic update, which was expected to reveal a larger-than-anticipated budget deficit for 2023/24 under the minority Liberal government.
Freeland, 56, who also served as deputy prime minister, stepped down, leaving Trudeau without an important ally in his cabinet as polls suggest his party may face a heavy loss in the upcoming election.
In her resignation letter posted on X, Freeland stated, "For the last number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds over the best path forward for Canada."
Freeland had served as finance minister since August 2020. Trudeau’s office did not immediately respond to her departure.
Reports indicated that Freeland and Trudeau had disagreed over proposals for temporary tax breaks and additional spending measures.
To fill the role, Trudeau appointed his close ally, Dominic LeBlanc, the public safety minister, who had recently joined him at a dinner with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
LeBlanc, after being sworn in, emphasized that he and Trudeau are prioritizing addressing the rising cost of living for Canadians and strengthening ties with Trump on issues like border security and economic policies.
Read next
02:10
Special Guests Broadcaster and Analyst Olly Barrat and Aiti Malhotra from the Canadian Global Affairs Institute join AnewZ's Editor-in-Chief Guy Shone \to make sense of Canada’s political crisis, the consequences of the resignation of Finance Ministry Chrystia Freeland.
20:57
Canada's government faces uncertainty as Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigns, leaving the country vulnerable to looming U.S. tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump.
19:14
Canada plans to impose tariffs on a range of Chinese products starting in early 2025, according to the government's fiscal update. This move is part of an ongoing investigation into imports from China, following previous tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, steel, and aluminum.
11:06
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau meets U.S. President-elect Trump at Mar-a-Lago after Trump’s tariff threats on Canadian imports, sparking economic concerns amid Trudeau’s political challenges.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment