Will former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Chrystia Freeland, succeed Justin Trudeau if he resigns? – First message

Chrystia Freeland, who shook up Canadian politics last week with her surprise resignation as the country’s finance minister and deputy prime minister, is seen as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s replacement. The Canadian leader is under pressure to resign, with dozens of MPs from his own party calling on him to resign.

Trudeau is currently considering his next move. Amid political turmoil, some Liberal MPs supported Freeland to succeed him.

Let’s take a closer look.

Who is Chrystia Freeland?

Chrystia Freeland sent shock waves through Ottawa after resigning in a scathing letter from her position as Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada last Monday (December 16).

Freeland said in her letter that she and Prime Minister Trudeau were “at odds over the best path forward for Canada,” highlighting the “serious challenge” posed by the U.S. president-elect’s threat of tariffs , Donald Trump.

Once among Trudeau’s most loyal allies, Freeland has been described as the Canadian prime minister’s “most obvious successor” by the author of his unauthorized biography titled Chrystia: From the Peace River to Parliament Hill.

The book by Toronto journalist Catherine Tsalikis looks at her professional relationship with Trudeau.

The Harvard University graduate was convinced by Trudeau more than a decade ago to enter politics after spending 20 years as a journalist. In 2013, Freeland was elected as the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre.

His working relationship with Trudeau, who became
Canadain 2015, became deeper after the 2019 elections when she became Deputy Prime Minister, CTV News reported citing Freeland’s biography.

As Tsalikis said Life in TorontoTrudeau “came to rely on her in times of crisis.”

Freeland secured an agreement on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) from the Canadian Prime Minister in 2019, negotiating with then-US President Trump. Freeland and Anita Anand (the current Minister of Transport) were part of the duo who “did things” during the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryam Monsef, who was then Minister for Women and Equal Opportunities, told Tsalikis. sexes.

The book describes his loyalty to Trudeau and the Prime Minister’s recognition of his importance in the government. An official told the author: “Trudeau’s foreign policy (was) actually mainly Chrystia Freeland’s foreign policy. »

Freeland was named Minister of International Trade in Trudeau’s first cabinet. She held another high-profile portfolio in government as Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2020, she made history by becoming Canada’s first female Minister of Finance.

“I think part of what made her a successful minister… is that relationship with the Prime Minister… It’s based on two things: her loyalty to the Prime Minister and the way she was able to meet their expectations, especially in difficult times. of crisis,” Tsalikis told CTV News.

Will Chrystia Freeland replace Trudeau?

Freeland’s shock resignation Last Monday, she arrived just hours before she was due to present the government’s fall economic statement.

Since his departure, calls have increased for Trudeau to resign and make way for a new Liberal leader.
The Canadian Prime Minister’s approval rating has plunged. The Conservative Party currently has a 21-point lead over the Liberals.

At least 21 Liberal MPs have publicly urged Trudeau to resign, many in the past week, the Canadian public broadcaster noted. Radio-Canada News. Some of them have now come forward to support Freeland.

“Whether by design or by circumstance, her moment of resignation thrust her into the spotlight. And she seems to be the person that caucus members can rally around,” said Ontario Liberal MP Chandra Arya. CBC News.

Arya said her previous support for Trudeau came from the lack of a “viable and reassuring alternative”, which has now been filled by Freeland.

Other names are also being circulated to replace Trudeau at the head of the Liberal Party, including new Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and former Minister of Sean Fraser Housing.

Prince Edward Island Liberal MP Sean Casey told reporters last week that there was “no shortage” of people to succeed Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party “without the baggage of the first minister “.

Casey also responded in the affirmative when asked if he would like Freeland to launch a leadership bid, reported CBC News.

According to the Globe and Mail report, Trudeau discusses his future with senior Cabinet members and party leaders.

Even as Trudeau takes time to consider his next move, no member of his Liberal Party has publicly expressed interest in replacing him.

Freeland has already announced she will run in the next federal election, which must take place no later than October next year.

In a letter thanking her supporters, the former finance minister said “this will not be the end of the road”, sparking speculation about her potential candidacy for the country’s leadership.

If Freeland succeeds Trudeau, her biography reportedly said it would be “another historic first” since the Liberal Party has never been led by a woman.

With the contribution of agencies