Canada’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned Monday following disagreements with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over issues such as potential U.S. tariffs under the looming Trump presidency, dealing a significant blow to an already unpopular government.
Freeland announced her resignation in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which she shared over social media. In the letter, Freeland revealed that Trudeau informed her last week she would be removed from the finance portfolio and offered a different cabinet role instead.
“To be effective, a Minister must speak on behalf of the Prime Minister and with his full confidence. In making your decision, you made clear that I no longer credibly enjoy that confidence and possess the authority that comes with it,” the former finance minister wrote in her resignation letter posted to X.
“For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada.”
Freeland’s resignation landed just as the federal government prepared to unveil its highly anticipated fall economic statement and is raising doubt if Trudeau will stay on as Canada’s leader.
‘Call an election’: Freeland’s resignation fuels calls for Trudeau to step down
Freeland’s departure, coupled with mounting dissent both within and outside Canada’s ruling party, has intensified calls for the prime minister to resign.
Leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP) Jagmeet Singh was quick to call for Trudeau to step down, telling reporters “They’re fighting themselves instead of fighting for Canadians.”
“They’re fighting themselves instead of fighting for Canadians,” says Jagmeet Singh of the Liberal government after Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from cabinet. “For that reason today I’m calling on Justin Trudeau to resign. He has to go,” Singh tells reporters.
#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/zPhwtNS4Kx— CPAC (@CPAC_TV) December 16, 2024
Chad Collins, who represents the Ontario riding of Hamilton East–Stoney Creek, revealed today that he was among 24 Liberal MPs who signed a letter to Trudeau asking him to step down in October. Collins has now gone public as a signatory and is repeating his demand today.
In Oct, I signed a letter with 23 MPs from across 🇨🇦, asking the PM to step down and begin a formal process to replace him.
Today, I publicly reiterate my request that the Prime Minister step down and initiate a leadership process to take our country in a new direction. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/TbP95mhVNP— Chad Collins (@ChadCollinsMP) December 16, 2024
Liberal MP Patrick Weiler, MP from West Vancouver, was another major figure within Trudeau’s party to lend his voice to the growing calls for Canada’s leader to step down in a lengthy statement posted to X.
Conservative MP of Durham, Ont., took to social media stating “The Trudeau Liberals are falling apart. Our country needs real leadership right now.
The Trudeau Liberals are falling apart.
Our country needs real leadership right now.
Call an election.
— Jamil Jivani (@jamiljivani) December 16, 2024
Former Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould lended her voice to the calls for Trudeau’s resignation, tweeting “The country desperately needs a new general.”
Members of the public are also chiming in, taking to social media to jot down thoughts like “Justin Trudeau’s resignation would be a pretty great Christmas present for Canada.”
Honestly, Justin Trudeau’s resignation would be a pretty great Christmas present for Canada. His policies have been a total mess ,from poor economic management to making Canada look bad on the international stage. And let’s not forget his refugee policy, which has put a huge…
— Fahad Naim (@Fahadnaimb) December 16, 2024
Another social media user simply stated, “Trudeau finally made a wise decision?”
Ah, Trudeau finally made a wise decision? Well, miracles do happen! It’s almost like spotting a unicorn in the wild—rare and unexpected. Who knew he had it in him? 😉 https://t.co/cCxPWSIXMb
— Jolly Good Planet (@JollyGoodPlanet) December 16, 2024
A political science professor based in Ottawa is sharing her thoughts on X, jotting down “I suspect that the wave of anti-Trudeau sentiment in the Liberal caucus is about to turn into a tsunami.”
Another social media user simply states that Freeland’s hurried departure from office “is the final nail in the Trudeau government.”
This is a powerful resignation letter. It is meaningful, pointedly direct, and completely on the mark.
It is also the letter that is the final nail in the Trudeau government. It’s not the resignation; that was expected. It’s the timing. https://t.co/n75aWql82r
— Trond Frantzen (@TrondFrantzen) December 16, 2024
‘This news has hit me really hard’: Freeland’s departure stuns government officials
Freeland’s shocking resignation letter has set off a firestorm of reactions, drawing responses from government officials and sparking intense debate among the public.
The news appeared to catch Housing Minister Sean Fraser off guard, as he learned of it during a press conference where he was announcing his own resignation from cabinet.
“This is news to me,” Fraser shared. “Not knowing her own take on the reasons behind that decision makes it very difficult for me to assess what it may mean.”
Minister of Transport Anita Anand became emotional when press caught up to with her Monday and asked her about Freeland’s resignation and shared “This news has hit me really hard.”
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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre spoke to reporters following Freeland’s departure, using the opportunity to call for an election by saying “The Government of Canada is spiralling out of control,” and that Freeland’s resignation is a sign Trudeau has “lost control.”
“The Canadian people deserve to choose who should be their next prime minister,” Poilievre told reporters.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was asked to touch on Freeland’s sudden resignation by reporters Monday morning, and he issued an on-camera response saying “It’s chaos right now up in Ottawa.”
How do you feel about Canada’s leadership heading into 2025?
