TORONTO: Chrystia Freeland, the former finance minister whose abrupt resignation last year triggered Justin Trudeau’s departure as prime minister, is leaving the Cabinet of PM Mark Carney, an official confirmed Tuesday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of a public announcement, said Freeland is stepping down from her post as transport minister.
Freeland, once Trudeau’s most influential lieutenant, served as deputy prime minister and finance minister before her surprise resignation in December 2024. That move destabilised Trudeau’s government and ultimately led to his resignation as Liberal leader and prime minister.
She later contested the Liberal leadership race but won just 8% of the vote, losing to Carney, who brought her back into Cabinet earlier this year.
Freeland’s career has been marked by high-profile roles. She was Canada’s chief negotiator during the renegotiation of the NAFTA trade pact with the US and Mexico under Donald Trump, who later labelled her “totally toxic.” She has also been a strong advocate for Ukraine in its war against Russia, reflecting her Ukrainian heritage.
Her exit marks the end of a turbulent chapter for one of the most high-profile figures in Canadian politics.
