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.
Canada’s government is facing political turmoil after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland abruptly resigned on Monday, leaving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration adrift just weeks before the inauguration of a U.S. administration that has threatened severe tariffs on Canadian exports.
Freeland stepped down after Trudeau offered her a lesser role in cabinet, citing disagreements over the prime minister's push for increased spending. She warned that excessive spending could weaken Canada’s ability to withstand the economic fallout from potential tariffs imposed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
As the head of a special cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations, Freeland had been instrumental in coordinating with Canada’s 10 provinces to prepare a unified response to Trump’s trade policies.
Her departure came as a shock, particularly to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who criticized the government for leaving provincial leaders blindsided. Smith revealed that premiers learned of Freeland’s resignation halfway through a critical meeting about Canada-U.S. relations.
The resignation has further deepened internal divisions within Trudeau’s ruling Liberal Party. Disgruntled legislators, some of whom have been urging Trudeau to resign for months, gathered in Ottawa to express their frustration over the party’s declining popularity.
With national elections due no later than October 2025, the Liberals are trailing in the polls, putting Trudeau under increasing pressure to step aside.
Freeland’s departure comes at a precarious time for Canada’s economy. During Trump’s first presidency in 2017, he threatened to dismantle the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a move that could have devastated Canada’s U.S.-dependent economy.
Freeland, then foreign minister, played a pivotal role in renegotiating the deal, helping to secure the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
With Trump poised to return to power and hinting at renewed tariffs, Canada now finds itself without one of its most experienced negotiators at a crucial moment. Trudeau's government faces mounting pressure to stabilize the leadership vacuum and reassure Canadians that the country is prepared to navigate the economic and political challenges ahead.
Boston, February 19, 2025 – In a powerful display of national pride and defiance, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used Canada’s recent win in the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey final as a platform to send a clear message to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Delta Air Lines is offering $30,000 to each passenger aboard Flight 4819, which crashed while attempting to land at Toronto Pearson International Airport on February 17, 2025. All 80 passengers and crew members survived the incident, with no life-threatening injuries reported.
Canada is seeing a sharp drop in refugee claims as it tightens visa controls, limiting legal pathways for asylum-seekers. The government says the measures prevent abuse, but advocates warn they leave displaced people with few safe options.
Canada’s Liberal Party is set to elect a new leader on March 9, following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation. The winner will replace Trudeau as party leader and prime minister, potentially triggering an early national election.
Thirteen Canadian premiers visited Washington, D.C. on February 12 to meet with U.S. lawmakers, seeking to prevent President Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, which threaten industries reliant on these materials.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. is close to an agreement with Ukraine on sharing mineral revenue as part of efforts to end the war, aiming to recoup military aid sent to Kyiv.
Germans head to the polls in a national election expected to return Friedrich Merz’s conservatives to power while giving the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) its best-ever result, marking a significant rightward shift in Europe’s largest economy.
Polish President Andrzej Duda called for a stronger U.S. presence in Poland and Central Europe during a meeting with Donald Trump in Washington. Trump, however, assured Duda of U.S. support, saying Poland is a credible ally.
Pope Francis' health has worsened, with the Vatican describing his condition as "critical" for the first time. He has received supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions.
A knife attack in Mulhouse has left one person dead and three injured. France’s Interior Minister says migration issues played a role in the incident.
A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night left 18 dead and 10 injured as thousands of people, many heading to the Kumbh Mela festival, attempted to board delayed trains. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of overcrowding at public transportation hubs in India.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
Berlin, February 21, 2025 – German citizens will head to the polls on Sunday, February 23, for a snap general election after the coalition government collapsed late last year.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. is close to an agreement with Ukraine on sharing mineral revenue as part of efforts to end the war, aiming to recoup military aid sent to Kyiv.
Germans head to the polls in a national election expected to return Friedrich Merz’s conservatives to power while giving the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) its best-ever result, marking a significant rightward shift in Europe’s largest economy.
Polish President Andrzej Duda called for a stronger U.S. presence in Poland and Central Europe during a meeting with Donald Trump in Washington. Trump, however, assured Duda of U.S. support, saying Poland is a credible ally.
Pope Francis' health has worsened, with the Vatican describing his condition as "critical" for the first time. He has received supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions.
A knife attack in Mulhouse has left one person dead and three injured. France’s Interior Minister says migration issues played a role in the incident.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. is close to an agreement with Ukraine on sharing mineral revenue as part of efforts to end the war, aiming to recoup military aid sent to Kyiv.
Germans head to the polls in a national election expected to return Friedrich Merz’s conservatives to power while giving the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) its best-ever result, marking a significant rightward shift in Europe’s largest economy.
Polish President Andrzej Duda called for a stronger U.S. presence in Poland and Central Europe during a meeting with Donald Trump in Washington. Trump, however, assured Duda of U.S. support, saying Poland is a credible ally.
Pope Francis' health has worsened, with the Vatican describing his condition as "critical" for the first time. He has received supplemental oxygen and blood transfusions.
A knife attack in Mulhouse has left one person dead and three injured. France’s Interior Minister says migration issues played a role in the incident.
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