Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland announced his resignation from the federal cabinet, blaming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his decision.
The announcement came in a letter she shared on (formerly Twitter) Monday morning, before Freeland presented the fall economic statement in the House of Commons and less than an hour before journalists began to be locked in for an embargoed reading of the document.
Finance Department officials confirmed shortly after 1:30 p.m. Eastern that the fall economic statement would be tabled as scheduled at 4 p.m. Eastern on Monday.
In the letter addressed to TrudeauFreeland wrote: “On Friday you informed me that you no longer wanted me to be your Minister of Finance and offered me another Cabinet position. »
“After reflection, I have concluded that the only honest and viable path is for me to resign from the Cabinet,” she added.
Freeland, 56, further pointed out that in recent weeks she has found herself increasingly at odds with Trudeau.
The message sent at 9:07 a.m. Eastern time came just hours before the closed session in Ottawa for the fall economic statement was scheduled to begin.
Global News asked Freeland’s office if she would present the fall economic statement. A press secretary said what happens with the financial update is a matter for the Prime Minister’s Office or the Ministry of Finance.
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“In light of the new information we have just received, the Department of Finance Canada is determining the next steps regarding the 2024 Fall Economic Statement embargoed documents,” the Department of Finance said in a statement on Monday.
“Expensive political gadgets”
In Freeland’s letter, she said: “Our country faces a serious challenge today. The new US administration is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism, including the threat of 25 percent tariffs.”
“We must take this threat extremely seriously. That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we might need for a future tariff war. This means avoiding costly political ploys that we cannot afford and that make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment.
Freeland said this involves pushing back against “American first” economic nationalism and working in good faith with provinces and territories to build a “Canadian team” response.
She said she was confident that Canadians would “recognize and respond to such an approach.”
“They know when we are working for them, and they also know when we are focused on ourselves,” she said. “Inevitably, our term in government will end. But how we confront this threat our country currently faces will define us for a generation, and perhaps longer. Canada will win if we are strong, smart and united.
Freeland concluded by saying that it is with this conviction that she has been motivated in her efforts this fall to manage the nation’s spending in a way that provides the flexibility needed to meet the serious challenges ahead.
“I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have served in government and I will always be proud of our government’s work for Canada and Canadians,” she said.
“I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues as a Liberal MP and am determined to run again for my seat in Toronto in the next federal election.
Speaking to reporters before a cabinet meeting Monday, Treasury Board President Anita Anand called Freeland a “good friend.”
“Chrystia Freeland is… someone I worked very, very closely with as President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Transport. This news has hit me very hard and I will reserve further comment until I have time to process this report,” she said.
Freeland was first elected to the House of Commons in 2015, representing the Toronto riding of University-Rosedale. She rose quickly within the Liberal Party, first serving as Minister of International Trade, then Deputy Prime Minister, before being named Minister of Finance in 2020.
There was no immediate reaction from Trudeau’s office.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to Freeland’s resignation during a press briefing Monday.
He answered “no” when asked if he spoke with Freeland over the weekend about his decision, but added that “we are all” concerned about his resignation.
“There is nothing more important to the world and to Canada than projecting unity,” he said.
— with files from Saba Aziz of Global News
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