Trudeau considering his options as leader after Freeland quits cabinet, sources say

December 16, 2024 Canuck

Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s finance minister, said in an explosive letter published Monday morning that she will quit cabinet.

It has ignited a storm of confusion on Parliament Hill, coming the same day she was set to table her fall economic statement – a delayed document that typically includes key economic metrics such as the size of Canada’s deficit.

Follow along for live updates:

1:50 p.m. EST: Premiers speak

CTV News’ Adrian Ghobrial asked premiers during a press conference whether they have confidence in a Trudeau government to lead Canada into a tariff war that is “knocking on our door.”

“All the premiers are going to be at the table making sure we move forward in a very constructive way, in a very collaborative way, to protect our provinces and our territories and our entire country from coast to coast to coast,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded. “That’s our job, we’re ready and we’ll rise up to the occasion. I can promise you that.”

1:30 p.m. EST: Fall economic statement set to go forth

The Department of Finance has confirmed that the fall economic statement lockup will begin at 1:45 p.m. EST, with Deputy Minister Chris Forbes providing remarks at 2 p.m.

1:04 p.m. EST: Trudeau considering prorogation or resignation, sources say

Sources tell CTV News that the prime minister has conveyed to cabinet that he is considering prorogation or resignation, and he’s potentially planning to address Parliament this afternoon.

1 p.m. EST: Poilievre says ‘everything has gotten out of control’

In his first public address on Monday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre painted a dark picture of Canada as a country plagued by illegal immigration, drug and gun violence, and an inflated economy.

“All this chaos and division, all these weaknesses are emerging,” while a potential tariff war is emerging with the United States, he said.

“Everything has gotten out of control,” he said, making an appeal to the “patriotic” Liberal voters across the country to abandon their support for their party.

“You are good and decent patriotic people who have been let down,” he said, before ostensibly asking for their vote.

“Now is the time for a carbon-tax election,” he said. “Let’s bring it home.”

12:45 p.m. EST: Champagne will not assume position

Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry François-Philippe Champagne says he has not assumed Freeland’s position.

“Are you currently the minister of finance?” a reporter asked in French.

“No, I am the minister of innovation, science and industry, and as I’ve told you, it’s a serious situation,” he replied.

When asked whether he has confidence in the prime minister, he said, “Listen, the moment now is for us to focus on the best interest of Canadians, and that’s what we’re doing.”

12:30 p.m. EST: Freeland positioning for leadership? ‘Absolutely’

Does Freeland’s letter indicate she is interested in a leadership bid of her own?

“Absolutely,” said CTV News Political Analyst Tom Mulcair. Freeland closed her letter with a vow to run again for her seat in Toronto.

Mulcair referenced one particularly pointed line where she said Canada needs to better prepare for a potential tariff war with the United States.

“That means eschewing costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment.”

“That is one of the most potent expressions I have heard in a political letter like that,” said Mulcair.

12:05 p.m. EST: Hussen still has confidence in PM

“The prime minister is still the prime minister, and the government is still functioning,” Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen told CTV News’ Judy Trinh.

When asked if he still has confidence in Trudeau, Hussen said, “Of course.”

12 p.m. EST: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh: Liberals ‘obsessed with infighting’

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh released scathing reaction to Freeland’s departure, accusing the Liberals of being “obsessed with infighting, and ignoring the urgent challenges everyday Canadians are coping with.”

He also addressed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party is best positioned to form government if Trudeau falls.

“We’ll take no lessons from Pierre Poilievre, who gleefully licks his chops at Trudeau’s death spiral and Trump’s threats. Conservatives aren’t thinking about everyday people, either—they’re focused on making big businesses and ultra-wealthy CEOs richer at people’s expense.”

Poilievre is expected to address reporters at 12:15 p.m. EST.

11:45 a.m. EST: Ontario premier says it’s time for ‘unity’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Freeland’s departure from cabinet should promote “unity” among provincial leaders during uncertain economic times.

“This is a time for the premiers to step up, which we’re going to, and to project unity across the country,” he said during a scrum outside a premiers’ meeting in Mississauga, Ont.

Likely at the top of their agenda, they’ll discuss U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s tariff threats – a core element of Freeland’s portfolio of issues that are now hanging in the balance.

Ford said Canada has a “great team” of premiers working together.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, centre, is swarmed by the media as they ask him about finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigning from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet during the fall meetings of Canada’s premiers hosted by Ontario in Toronto, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press)

11:42 a.m. EST: Hajdu comments on Freeland’s departure

Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu says she respects Freeland’s decision to resign and wishes her “all the best.”

”Look, these are difficult and deeply personal decisions, and you know, obviously she has made that decision.”

11:37 a.m. EST: What does the NDP do now?

Many eyes are on the NDP and how that party’s leader, Jagmeet Singh, will handle Freeland’s departure and the party’s support for the government.

“Chrystia Freeland does not have confidence” in the prime minister, said CTV pollster Nik Nanos. How can Singh?

“How can he survive this?” asked Nanos, adding that Freeland’s departure is a lightning rod to internal conversations around the leadership of the Liberal party. “Should it be Justin Trudeau, or should it be someone else?” asked Nanos.

CTV News has requested comment from the NDP.

11:30 a.m. EST: Conservatives respond

Reacting to Freeland’s resignation, Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer said, “Even she has lost confidence in Trudeau.

“This government is in shambles,” Scheer added.

11:10 a.m. EST: Trudeau thrown under the ‘political bus’

Political analyst and CTV’s official pollster Nik Nanos calls this a disaster for Justin Trudeau while Freeland maintains her loyalty to the party.

“Justin Trudeau just learned what it’s like to be thrown under the political bus,” said Nanos in an interview on CTV News Channel.

“I can’t envision what Justin Trudeau can do right now to fix this.”

CTV News has cameras on the Hill waiting for Trudeau to emerge from a cabinet meeting.

11 a.m. EST: Anand comments on Freeland’s departure

On her way to the Liberal cabinet meeting, Minister of Transport Anita Anand says the news of Freeland’s departure has hit her hard.

“Chrystia Freeland is a good friend, someone I work with very, very closely as president of the Treasury Board and minister of transport,” she says.

“I’ll reserve further comment until I have time to process it.”

10:50 a.m. EST: ‘This is a disaster for the government’

Political analyst Lori Turnbull says that even if Housing Minister Sean Fraser had been the only one to resign today, it would still have been a big enough blow to Trudeau’s cabinet.

“Fraser’s departure would have been a hard enough day for the prime minister,” she told CTV News.

But speaking of Freeland’s departure, “This is a disaster for the government,” she adds.

10:20 a.m. EST: Liberal government in ‘disarray’: Scott Reid

Speaking to CTV News’ Vassy Kapelos, CTV political analyst Scott Reid described the news as “genuinely a thunderbolt out of the sky, clearly taking the prime minister, the prime minister’s office, the government, off balance, as well as the rest of us.”

“This is a direct, strong challenge to the prime minister and the government. They are in disarray at this moment,” Reid added.

10 a.m. EST: A last-minute choice?

Freeland’s departure comes at a volatile time for the Trudeau government. Not only is the party trailing the Conservative opposition in the polls, but it destabilizes the Liberals’ plan to table Monday’s landmark fall economic statement. It remains unclear who, if anyone, in the party was aware of her plans.

Chief Political Correspondent Vassy Kapelos tells CTV News Channel her show, Power Play, had scheduled an interview with Freeland at 5 p.m. EST to discuss the document.

Freeland’s letter mentioned a conversation between herself and the prime minister on Friday, wherein he asked her to change jobs.

“We are eagerly trying to figure out exactly what that means for the fall economic statement, for its tabling,” said Kapelos, adding she was waiting to hear word from her sources on the Hill.