President-elect Donald Trump recently joked about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, claiming on Truth Social that it would save Canadians on taxes and military expenses.
A Leger poll suggests that 13% of Canadians support the idea. Trump had previously made the same joke at a Mar-a-Lago dinner, linking it to combating fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration.
Since then, Trump has referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the "governor" of Canada, sparking further controversy.
Meanwhile, Trudeau is grappling with a political crisis following the resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. Freeland opposed Trudeau’s policies, including a sales tax holiday and direct cash payments, which she criticized as "costly political gimmicks." She also expressed concern over Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, a key point of disagreement with Trudeau.
The situation escalated during heated debates in Canada’s House of Commons before the winter break. With Trudeau absent, opposition MP Andrew Scheer criticized his leadership, highlighting internal turmoil and a $62 billion budget deficit that exceeded the earlier $40 billion target.
In an effort to stabilize his administration, Trudeau appointed Dominic LeBlanc as finance minister. LeBlanc defended the government’s economic policies, emphasizing growth, support for Canadians, and a strong debt-to-GDP ratio.
Amid growing criticism and waning public support, with Conservatives polling at 43%, compared to the Liberals’ 23%, Trudeau rejected calls for his resignation. He reaffirmed his commitment to addressing challenges such as inflation, global conflicts, and threats to democracy.
With the Liberal Party holding a minority in Parliament, a confidence vote on Trudeau’s leadership is expected in early 2025.
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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.
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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.
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Canada's Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned unexpectedly, citing a policy disagreement with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over his plans for increased government spending. Her departure happens just hours before presenting a crucial economic update.
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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.
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