Canada finance minister resigns as PM Trudeau grapples with new Trump term
Al Jazeera
Chrystia Freeland cites government’s response to US President-elect Donald Trump’s 25 percent tariff threats in letter stepping down from her post.
Canada’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has resigned in a blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is facing declining approval ratings and opposition from within his own party, as well as the prospect of a trade war with the United States.
In her resignation letter, which was posted on X on Monday, Freeland revealed that Trudeau had informed her last week that he no longer wanted her to serve in the role and would instead offer her another cabinet position.
“Upon reflection, I have concluded that the only honest and viable path is for me to resign from the cabinet,” Freeland wrote.
“For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada,” she continued.
Trudeau did not immediately respond to the resignation, which comes just days after he met with Canada’s provincial leaders to outline his plans to respond to threats of a trade war with US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20.
