16.63°C Vancouver

Dec 16, 2024 3:02 PM - The Canadian Press

Chrystia Freeland quits cabinet the day of fall economic statement

Share On
chrystia-freeland-quits-cabinet-the-day-of-fall-economic-statement
she aid the only "honest and viable path" is to leave cabinet.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned from the Liberal cabinet on Monday, posting her resignation letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media. Here is the letter:

"Dear Prime Minister,
It has been the honour of my life to serve in government, working for Canada and Canadians. We have accomplished a lot together.
On Friday, you told me you no longer want me to serve as your Finance Minister and offered me another position in the Cabinet.
Upon reflection, I have concluded that the only honest and viable path is for me to resign from the Cabinet.

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.
For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada.

Our country today faces a grave challenge. The incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism, including a threat of 25 per cent tariffs.

We need to take that threat extremely seriously. That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war. That means eschewing costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment.

That means pushing back against 'America First' economic nationalism with a determined effort to fight for capital and investment and the jobs they bring. That means working in good faith and humility with the Premiers of the provinces and territories of our great and diverse country, and building a true Team Canada response.

I know Canadians would recognize and respect such an approach. They know when we are working for them, and they equally know when we are focused on ourselves. Inevitably, our time in government will come to an end. But how we deal with the threat our country currently faces will define us for a generation, and perhaps longer. Canada will win if we are strong, smart, and united.

It is this conviction which has driven my strenuous efforts this fall to manage our spending in ways that will give us the flexibility we will need to meet the serious challenges presented by the United States.

I will always be grateful for the chance to have served in government and I will always be proud of our government's work for Canada and Canadians.


Latest news

carney-announces-support-measures-for-softwood-lumber-industry
CanadaAug 05, 2025

Carney announces support measures for softwood lumber industry

Prime Minister Mark Carney says the federal government will grant a series of financial aid measures to Canada's forestry sector. The move comes as the U.S. ratchets up duties on Canadian softwood lumber as bilateral trade tensions rise.
trump-threatens-india-with-higher-tariffs-for-buying-oil-from-russia
CanadaAug 05, 2025

Trump threatens India with higher tariffs for buying oil from Russia

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened India with higher tariffs for buying oil from Russia, to which India responded late at night by directly naming the US. Trump had said on Truth Social, "India does not care how many people are being killed in Ukraine due to Russian attacks. That is why I am going to increase tariffs on India." In response, India called Trump's threat unreasonable and irrational. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that the US itself imports uranium hexafluoride from Russia for its nuclear industry, palladium for the electric vehicle industry, fertiliz
IndiaAug 05, 2025

Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik passes away

Known for speaking out in favour of Punjab farmers, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik passed away today at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after a long illness. He had been suffering from kidney disease for a long time. Malik belonged to the Kirsani community of Hiswara village in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district. He had been speaking out on the farmers' issue for a long time and had even offered to mediate between the farmers and the government. Malik, who belonged to the Jat community of Uttar Pradesh, became a crisis solution for the BJP when the Modi government rev
langley-rcmp-appeal-for-footage-witnesses-after-fatal-b-c-highway-crash
BCAug 05, 2025

Langley RCMP appeal for footage, witnesses after fatal B.C. highway crash

Police in Langley, B.C., say a motorcyclist has died after a crash on Highway 1 on Saturday evening. Langley RCMP say emergency responders were called to the scene of a serious crash that happened between 264th and 248th Street just before 8:30 p.m. Police say BC Emergency Health Services and firefighters from the Township of Langley arrived quickly to help, but the motorcyclist died at the scene. Mounties say collision analysts, BC Highway Patrol and Langley RCMP are now investigating. They say westbound lanes of the highway were closed for several hours. Police say anyone who saw the crash o
finance-and-foreign-ministers-in-mexico-to-talk-trade-ahead-of-carneys-visit
CanadaAug 05, 2025

Finance and foreign ministers in Mexico to talk trade ahead of Carney's visit

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne are in Mexico to meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum to talk economic growth, trade and security. Their trip is happening ahead of Prime Minister Mark Carney's planned visit to Mexico to meet with Sheinbaum. The U.S. hit Canada on Friday with a 35 per cent tariff on goods not compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement on trade, known as CUSMA, while Mexico received a 90-day reprieve from threatened higher levies. CUSMA is scheduled for a mandatory review next year. Ontario Premier Doug Ford c

Related News