A political storm has erupted in Canada as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s sudden resignation sent shockwaves through Ottawa on Monday, igniting calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down.
Freeland announced her resignation in a letter addressed to Trudeau, which she posted on social media. She revealed the Prime Minister had informed her of plans to reassign her to a different cabinet role, a move she could not support.
“Upon reflection, I have concluded that the only honest and viable path is for me to resign from the Cabinet.”
The resignation caught many off guard, including Housing Minister Sean Fraser, who appeared visibly stunned during a press conference. “This is news to me,” said Fraser, who previously served as Freeland’s parliamentary secretary.
Transport Minister Anita Anand expressed her dismay, calling Freeland “a good friend” and a valued colleague. “This news has hit me really hard,” she said before heading into a cabinet meeting.
Freeland’s departure comes at a precarious moment for Trudeau’s minority government, which faces mounting challenges, including rising inflation, an anticipated economic crisis, and threats of punitive tariffs from Donald Trump if he regains the U.S. presidency.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre seized on the turmoil, holding a press conference to call for Trudeau’s resignation and urging the NDP to support a vote of no-confidence. “Justin Trudeau has lost control,” Poilievre declared.
“The finance minister has resigned in the middle of an economic crisis, and one-fifth of his caucus no longer supports him. Everything is spiralling out of control.”
Former cabinet minister Jody Wilson-Raybould echoed the sentiment in a scathing social media post:
“Justin Trudeau—#itstime, long past time to go.”
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also criticised the government, though he stopped short of calling for an election or withdrawing his party’s support for the Liberals. “The withering resignation of Trudeau’s right-hand minister shows just how deeply this Liberal government’s members are obsessed with infighting,” Singh said.
“While the Liberals fight among themselves, Canadians are struggling with the cost of living and job losses.”
Freeland’s resignation has also disrupted the release of the government’s long-awaited fall economic statement, which was delayed by several hours on Monday. The statement, expected to address Canada’s fiscal health and propose measures for economic recovery, has been overshadowed by the political drama.
Freeland’s exit is the latest in a string of resignations and internal dissent within Trudeau’s government, raising questions about the Prime Minister’s ability to lead amid growing discontent and economic uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Liberal MP Chad Collins has reiterated his call for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to step down, referencing an October letter signed by 23 MPs urging a leadership change to guide Canada in a new direction.
As calls for his resignation grow louder, Trudeau’s political future hangs in the balance, with Canada’s opposition parties eyeing an opportunity to force change in leadership.
Support Our Journalism
The global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today—with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors—is doing just that. Sustaining this requires support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon
