Ottawa, 17 September (H.S.): Chrystia Freeland, a stalwart of Canadian politics since 2015, has stepped down from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet and announced she will not seek re-election. Instead, she will take on the critical role of Canada’s Special Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. The move was confirmed by Carney, who hailed Freeland’s “extraordinary service” over the past decade.

Freeland’s departure marks the end of a defining chapter in Canadian governance. She has served in top-tier roles including finance minister—the first woman to hold that position—foreign affairs minister, deputy prime minister, and most recently transport and internal trade minister. Her bold resignation as finance minister in December 2024 triggered the political downfall of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom she publicly criticized for “costly political gimmicks” and policy disagreements.

Of Ukrainian heritage and a fluent speaker of the language, Freeland has been an outspoken advocate for Ukraine since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. Her strong stance against Vladimir Putin’s aggression has made her a prominent figure in the international effort to support Kyiv, leading to Canada’s commitment of over C$2 billion in military aid this year.

Freeland’s new envoy role is a natural progression given her deep personal and diplomatic ties to Ukraine, and her extensive experience navigating complex trade and geopolitical challenges. She emphasized that her resignation is not motivated by family considerations but by a desire to embrace “fresh challenges” in public service.

Mark Carney’s government continues to address internal trade barriers and US-Canada tariff issues, while gearing up for renewed negotiations of the USMCA trade deal. Freeland’s legacy in negotiating that pivotal agreement during the Trump administration earned her both national acclaim and criticism from President Trump himself.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar