Chrystia Freeland, Justin Trudeau’s “minister of everything,” is entering the race to replace him

Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s former deputy prime minister, whose shock resignation last December helped pave the way for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to step down, said Friday that she will run to replace him.

She posted her ad on X with a six-word sentence: “I’m running to fight for Canada.”

Ms. Freeland, 56, was a close ally of Mr. Trudeau, who was often called the “minister of everything,” and has served as deputy prime minister since 2019 and has long been seen as a potential successor.

But there was a bitter falling out between the two when Mr. Trudeau moved to demote her via a Zoom call in December, offering her the position of minister without portfolio. Instead, she chose to Resignation He delivered a strong rebuke of Mr. Trudeau’s leadership as Canada prepares to deal with President-elect Donald J. Trump. Mr. Trump has threatened to implement tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States.

Her painful departure has destabilized Mr. Trudeau’s shaky grip on power. Three weeks later, on January 6, he announced that he would do so Step down As leader of the Liberal Party and as Prime Minister once a new leader is appointed.

Candidates for the leadership position will campaign ahead of a national vote among party members in March. The new Liberal Party leader will also become Prime Minister of Canada and lead the party into a general election expected in the spring.

Ms. Freeland said she will officially launch her campaign in person on Sunday, which could take place in Toronto, the constituency she represents in Parliament. She will face a difficult challenge in convincing Canadians that she is the most suitable candidate to confront the Conservative Party and its leader, Pierre Poilievre.

The Conservatives, who have a 25 percentage point lead over the Liberals in opinion polls, have sought to paint Ms. Freeland as part of the problem given her close relationship with Mr. Trudeau and her key role in his governments since 2015, when he was president. He first became prime minister.

Mr. Trudeau’s popularity has declined in recent years as Canadians have become increasingly frustrated with persistently rising costs of living in everything from housing to grocery bills.

Many Canadians have also begun to oppose the government’s immigration policy, which has led to 2.3 million people arriving in the country in the past two years. While the government has said immigrants are needed to help fill gaps in low-skilled jobs, many Canadians say the new arrivals have contributed to rising housing costs and pressures on the public health care system.

Ms. Freeland had accused Mr. Trudeau of engaging in political stunts after her department clashed with his office over a temporary sales tax exemption during year-end holidays.

The government estimated that Tax exemptionwhich covers items such as restaurant bills and some toys and clothing, would cost about C$1.6 billion, or $1.1 billion, which Ms. Freeland said Canada could not afford at a time when Mr. Trump is raising the specter of tariffs. .

“We must take this threat seriously,” Ms. Freeland said in her resignation. letter. “That means keeping our fiscal buffer dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for the next tariff war.”

Ms. Freeland was born and raised in Alberta and is of Ukrainian descent. She has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine on the world stage and has denounced the Russian invasion.

She attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and worked as a journalist and head of newsroom at a number of news organisations, including the Financial Times and Reuters, before joining the Liberal Party in 2013. She is married to a reporter in Oxford University’s Culture Office. The New York Times and has three children.

During Trump’s first term, Ms. Freeland led Canada’s renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Mexico, portraying steely confidence during tense talks in a bizarre moment of irony. (Ms. Freeland was photographed arriving in Washington in 2018 wearing a jacket White t-shirt Which reads “Keep Calm and Negotiate NAFTA.”)

But it also angered Mr. Trump during the negotiations, and his hostility appears to have not diminished.

When Ms. Freeland resigned in December, Mr. Trump posted triumphantly: “Her behavior has been completely toxic, and not at all conducive to making good deals for very unhappy Canadian citizens.” We will not miss her!!!

Mrs. Freeland, V Opinion piece The report published on Friday hinted that Canada would respond to “the biggest trade blow the US economy has ever endured.”

As Minister of Finance, she led popular government programs to reduce… Cost of day care For parents and addressing child poverty.

Her announcement on Friday marks the second entry of a top contender into the Liberal Party leadership race. You will Facing against Mark CarneyHe is a former head of the central banks of Canada and England, who announced his candidacy on Thursday.

Mr. Carney is a close friend of Ms. Freeland and is the godfather of one of her three children. He was appointed by Mr. Trudeau’s team to replace Ms. Freeland in government in December, but turned down the job.