Hello, welcome to Politics Insider. Let’s look at what happened today.
Former federal finance minister Chrystia Freeland says she will vacate her Toronto riding on Friday.
Freeland had been under fire for taking on an assignment as an unpaid economic adviser to the President of Ukraine while remaining a member of the House of Commons.
Late this afternoon, she announced in a post on X that she has written to the Speaker to confirm that she will vacate her University-Rosedale riding on Jan. 9.
Freeland has represented the riding since 2013.
“Going forward I will continue to support and help build Canada in every way I can, while championing the brave fight of the people of Ukraine, a cause I have been committed to my entire life,” Freeland wrote in her post.
In other news, Mark Carney will visit China next week, the first trip to the country by a Canadian prime minister in more than eight years as he seeks to rekindle relations with Xi Jinping.
Steven Chase and James Bradshaw report that Carney is looking for new export markets because of an increasingly protectionist United States under President Donald Trump.
He is also trying to patch up ties with Beijing after a severe diplomatic rupture and years of Canada barring state-owned Chinese companies from investing or operating here.
The Prime Minister will leave for China Jan. 13, his office said today. He arrives on Jan. 14 and will spend a couple of days there before departing Jan. 17.
Mr. Carney will meet with the Chinese President during the trip as well as Premier Li Qiang.
The last visit a Canadian prime minister made to China was in 2017 when Justin Trudeau met with Xi but failed to agree on terms to start negotiations on a trade deal.
From Jan. 19 to 21, Carney will travel to the Swiss municipality of Davos to attend the World Economic Forum annual meeting where he will meet with government and business leaders.
Former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland says she is resigning as an MP effective Friday.Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
What else is going on
NDP leadership candidates scramble to raise funds ahead of membership deadlines: The candidates are entering the final sprint to sign up members and raise the last of four $25,000 payments required to be on the ballot.
Canada faces existential challenge from Trump’s hemisphere strategy, Rae warns: Bob Rae, Canada’s former ambassador to the United Nations, says Canadians would be mistaken in thinking they’re not “on the menu” too, meaning “the American government doesn’t take Canada’s sovereignty seriously.”
Temporary foreign workers switch jobs and earn more after becoming permanent residents, study finds: The research, conducted by economists at universities in Toronto and Chicago, found several benefits for workers who transitioned to permanent-residency status.
Fulmer says B.C. Conservatives should welcome more people: Yuri Fulmer said the Conservative Party of B.C. needs to be a “grand coalition” that refrains from “undisciplined” behaviour if it wants to govern, as he becomes the first high-profile candidate to run for the party’s leadership.
On our radar
Prime Minister’s Day: Mark Carney had no public events today.
Party Leaders: No schedules released for party leaders.
Ministers on the Road: In the rural Nova Scotia community of Cherry Brook, Culture Minister Marc Miller announced the theme for this year’s Black History Month would be “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”
Eby in India: B.C. Premier David Eby is headed for India on a trade mission between Jan. 12 and 17. Accompanied by Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon, Eby will be meeting with government and business leaders in New Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Bangalore.
Question period
Who said, “It is time for Canadians and Americans to move beyond the sentimental rhetoric of the past. It is time for us to recognize that we have very separate identities; that we have significant differences; and that nobody’s interests are furthered when these realities are obscured.”
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
Chrystia Freeland must resign today, not some day
Canada’s representatives should act for Canada alone. Doing otherwise, even for a short time, isn’t acceptable. Ms. Freeland needs to step down as MP – not in a few weeks, not when it is convenient for the Liberal government, but today.
— The Globe and Mail Editorial Board
The antisemitism you might have missed over the holidays
Even with all the global festive cheer and goodwill, antisemitism managed to cloud the holiday air. As the world teeters toward disturbing instability, with Donald Trump’s imperialist actions and ambitions, these international acts not only add to feelings of insecurity for Jewish people but should be disconcerting for all – as any racist actions would be.
— Marsha Lederman, Columnist
Is more trade with China really a good idea?
When Prime Minister Mark Carney visits Beijing next week, his prime objective will be to improve trade ties to offset challenges from the United States.
— Margaret McCuaig-Johnston is a director of the China Strategic Risks Institute and a senior fellow of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa.
Go deeper
- Follow along for our stories on Canada-U.S. relations as news develops
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The answer to today’s question: U.S. president Richard Nixon made the point while speaking to the House of Commons on April 14, 1972.
Editor’s note: Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the date Chrystia Freeland was first elected.