Freeland leaving cabinet, won't run in next federal election

Longtime liberalist government minister Chrystia Freeland is stepping land from storage locker and has signalled her plans to provide federal politics.

In a letter posted to social media on Tuesday, the transport and internal trade minister said she made the decision "with tremendous gratitude and a little sadness."

"I do not intend to run in the next federal election," she wrote. 

"A great strength of democracy is that no one holds political office in perpetuity. After 12 fulfilling years in public life, I know that now is the right time for me to make way for others and to seek fresh challenges for myself."

In a statement, Prime Minister Mark Carney thanked his one-time Liberal leadership rival for her years of service and announced he's asked her to serve as Canada's new special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Freeland has long been one of Canada's most vocal opponents of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

"Chrystia's versatility, raw intelligence and principled leadership have served Canadians with distinction through extraordinary challenges and changes," Carney wrote.

To my neighbours, colleagues, and Canadians: thank you. 🇨🇦 Chers voisins, collègues et Canadiens : merci. <a href="https://t.co/H7Myf362Qy">pic.twitter.com/H7Myf362Qy</a>

"Her leadership has helped to secure historic trade negotiations, to guide the response to a global pandemic, to complete early learning and child-care agreements across Canada and most recently, to remove all federal barriers to internal trade all while strongly representing her constituents as the Member of Parliament for University-Rosedale." 

Freeland has been a fixture in Canadian politics since the Liberals swept into power in 2015, and served as former prime minister Justin Trudeau's deputy. 

She's held prominent roles in the front bench, including becoming the first woman appointed as finance minister in 2020. 

She sent shock waves through Ottawa when she abruptly resigned as finance minister in December, just hours before she was set to table the fall economic statement.

At the time, she called out her own government's economic stewardship and "costly political gimmicks." 

Her exit escalated caucus pressure on Trudeau to resign, triggering a leadership race that she ran in, but that ultimately made Carney leader. The Liberals would go from 20 points behind the Conservatives to a comeback win in April's election.

Freeland has had a role guiding Canada's diplomatic posture, as both international trade and foreign affairs minister. She helped lead Canada's negotiating team during U.S. President Donald Trump's first term in office, landing what is now known as the CUSMA trade deal.

She's attracted ire from Trump, who called her "toxic," and from Russia, which sanctioned her in 2014.

The decision was made not "to spend more time with my family or because the burden of elected office is too heavy to bear," Freeland said in her letter.

"For me and for my wonderful husband and children, public service has been a privilege and not a sacrifice. I am grateful for every minute, and I hope more Canadian girls and women will step up and seek the joys and rewards of elected politics for themselves and for their families."

Reporter

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