Portrait of Justin Trudeau
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Justin Trudeau on Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland

Forced resignation (strong)

Justin Trudeau's view of his Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, was that of a highly regarded colleague until late 2024 when their professional relationship abruptly ended. Freeland, often nicknamed the "minister of everything", was frequently viewed as a clear successor for the Liberal Party leadership.

Trudeau's position culminated in him asking Freeland to step down from her roles as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister on December 16, 2024. Freeland subsequently resigned from Cabinet entirely, stating she no longer had Trudeau's full confidence to be effective.

This event occurred amid severe political and economic pressures, including threatened US tariffs and Freeland's reported opposition to a $250 cheque promise. The resignation of Chrystia Freeland severely weakened Trudeau's government, leading to renewed calls for him to step down, which he officially announced shortly thereafter in January 2025.

Context

Chrystia Freeland served as a senior minister throughout Justin Trudeau's tenure, holding critical roles such as Minister of Foreign Affairs and later Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. Her prominence suggested a deep level of trust and importance within the Trudeau government's inner circle.

Her resignation was considered a major political crisis because it removed one of the government's most experienced figures just before a crucial economic statement and during escalating trade tensions with the incoming Trump administration.

Timeline

  1. Justin Trudeau appointed Chrystia Freeland to his cabinet upon becoming Prime Minister, indicating initial trust and political alignment.
  2. Trudeau asked Freeland to resign as Finance Minister and offered her another Cabinet position, which she declined, resigning altogether.
  3. Following Freeland's departure and the subsequent political crisis, Trudeau announced his intention to resign as Prime Minister.

Actions Taken

  1. Cabinet Reshuffle/Demand
    Asked Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland to resign from her posts.

Related Positions

  • Mark Carney Leadership Trudeau resigned as Liberal leader after the party held a leadership election to replace him, a process necessitated in part by the political crisis following Freeland's departure.
  • US Tariffs Retaliation Freeland's resignation occurred hours before the fall economic statement, which was expected to address the looming threat of 25% tariffs from the US.

Criticism

Chrystia Freeland

In her resignation letter, Freeland explicitly stated that Trudeau's decision meant she no longer 'credibly enjoy[ed] that confidence,' framing the split as a result of his action.

Sources3

* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.