Longtime Liberal minister Chrystia Freeland is leaving cabinet and has confirmed she will not run in the next federal election.
In a letter posted to social media on Tuesday, Freeland said she made the decision “with tremendous gratitude and a little sadness” after 12 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,” she wrote.
Prime Minister Mark Carney thanked Freeland for her years of service and announced she will serve as Canada’s special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Carney praised her versatility, intelligence and leadership, noting her work on historic trade deals, the pandemic response, child-care agreements, and removing barriers to internal trade.
Freeland has been a prominent figure in Canadian politics since 2015, serving as deputy to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and becoming Canada’s first female finance minister in 2020. She also played a key role in international trade and foreign affairs, including negotiating CUSMA and advocating against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Her decision follows her abrupt resignation as finance minister last December, which triggered a leadership race ultimately won by Carney. Freeland emphasized that her departure is not about personal burden but about timing, and encouraged more Canadian women to pursue political careers.
Her responsibilities in transport and internal trade will be split between Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and House Leader Steve MacKinnon.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
