Chrystia Freeland speaks with reporters in Ottawa on Dec. 10.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
In the wake of Chrystia Freeland’s resignation from Justin Trudeau’s cabinet on the day she was set to deliver the fall economic statement, political leaders have been reacting to the loss for the Liberals and the longtime politician’s reputation and impact.
The reactions came from those who worked alongside her in the House of Commons, as well as people who run organizations affected by her ministerial positions in the Trudeau government, which included international trade, intergovernmental affairs, foreign affairs, finance minister and deputy prime minister over the past nine years.
Calls for Trudeau to step down and for an election to be held
Many well-known political names used the moment to call for either Justin Trudeau’s resignation, or for the NDP to call for a vote of non-confidence.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a news conference, saying the Prime Minister has lost control and urged the NDP to join the other opposition parties to defeat the minority Liberal government.
“The minister of finance resigned in the middle of an economic crisis and one fifth of his caucus has lost confidence in him. That shows Justin Trudeau has lost control but he is hanging onto power,” he said. “Everything is spiraling out of control.”
In a press release, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh wrote, in part, “The withering resignation of Trudeau’s right-hand minister shows just how deeply this Liberal government’s members are obsessed with infighting, and ignoring the urgent challenges everyday Canadians are coping with.
“While the Liberals fight with each other, I believe we should be fighting for Canadian jobs at risk from Donald Trump’s tariffs. While Trudeau obsesses over his own drama, I believe we should be focused on the cost of homes and groceries that are burning up people’s paycheques and dimming hope.”
Former Trudeau cabinet minister Jody Wilson-Raybould who resigned in 2019 over the SNC-Lavalin affair, wrote, “Justin Trudeau-#itstime, long past time to go.”
B.C. Liberal MP Patrick Weiler, who supported a secret ballot on whether Mr. Trudeau should run again in November, put out a statement reiterating his call for the Prime Minister to step aside and begin a leadership process.
John Ruffolo, founder of tech investing firm OMERS Ventures, said the government is now in “free fall,” and wrote that the NDP needed to call for a vote of non-confidence.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner posted a series of tweets Monday morning calling for a federal election, several of which included a dumpster on fire.
Shock and surprise
Ontario Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford said “we all are” concerned about Freeland’s resignation, referring to himself and the other premiers.
On her way into a cabinet meeting Monday morning, Transport Minister and Treasury Board President Anita Anand said: “Chrystia Freeland is a good friend, someone I work with very closely … this news has hit me really hard."
Support for Freeland
Housing Minister Sean Fraser, who also resigned from his position Monday, said that he considers Ms. Freeland “a friend, and that friendship will continue long after my time in politics.”
Liberal MP Anthony Housefeather wrote, “All my strength and support to Chrystia Freeland. Since 2015 she has more than earned my trust and friendship.”
Dan Kelly, the president and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business noted that, “While we disagreed often, Chrystia Freeland was easily the most accessible federal or provincial Finance Minister I’ve worked with in my 30+ years CFIB career.”
Alexandra Chyczij, national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, put out a statement saying, in part, “On behalf of the Ukrainian Canadian community, I thank the Honourable Chrystia Freeland for her many years of exemplary public service to Canada in Cabinet and for her steadfast and unequivocal support for Ukraine.”
Former Conservative cabinet minister Lisa Raitt tweeted simply, “#TeamChrystia.”
With reports from Robert Fife and Marieke Walsh