Politics

The shock resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland denies the Liberals one of their most experienced cabinet ministers at navigating Canada-U.S. relations, with just over a month to go until president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. But more pressingly for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Freeland’s blunt resignation message — released publicly on social media in a move that blindsided Trudeau’s office and cabinet — has reignited questions on whether he can continue to lead the country.Freeland was a central player in the “Team Canada” approach to dealing with Trump’s first term, his threats of tariffs and the renegotiations of the North American free trade pact. With Trump’s return, Canada will face all those issues again from an American administration emboldened by their polit...

Just hours after Chrystia Freeland resigned from cabinet, long-time Liberal cabinet member Dominic LeBlanc has added the finance portfolio to his responsibilities. LeBlanc, who has served in cabinet since 2015, was sworn in at Rideau Hall to the role on Monday, becoming minister of finance and intergovernmental affairs. He will also remain as minister of public safety.LeBlanc called being named to the role an honour, and said the “number one” priority for government needed to be cost of living.“Canadian families, Canadians across the country are feeling the pressure of the cost of living increases, they want the government to remain focused on those issues,” he said.Earlier on Monday, Freeland advised Trudeau in a letter that she would step down from her role in the cabinet. She wrote that...

Descrease article font size Increase article font size 32 days after Canada post employees went on strike, they’re set to return to work Tuesday December 17th following orders by the federal labour relations board. Brahm Enslin is President for Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) local 824 in Saskatoon. He says he can’t understand why the government forced a resolution instead of negotiating one.“It seems to be in lockstep with what Canada Post was trying to do the whole entire time,” Enslin said.He added postal workers take their jobs very seriously, expressing his disappointment that negotiations failed to reach an agreement. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, si...

By The Staff The Canadian Press Posted December 16, 2024 7:02 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size Liberal MPs filing out of the caucus meeting Monday night would not say whether the prime minister is staying on or whether he has their support. Most MPs did not answer questions from reporters as they exited the meeting, saying that what happens in caucus is confidential.Ruby Sahota said Trudeau has her full support while James Maloney said the prime minister has the confidence of caucus. But Chad Collins, who publicly called for the prime minister to resign on Monday, disagreed.“We’re not unit...

Descrease article font size Increase article font size Canadian icon Terry Fox will soon make his way to the $5 bank note, the federal government announced in its Fall Economic Statement (FES) on Monday. The federal government’s budget document described Fox, who campaigned to raise awareness and funding for cancer research by running the Marathon of Hope, as a “Canadian hero.”“The 2024 Fall Economic Statement announces that Terry Fox will appear on the next $5 bank note,” the document, released on Monday, read.The government said this was being done to inspire more Canadians to give $5 to the cause that Terry Fox championed. 6:00 Annual Terry Fox ...

By Nick Murray The Canadian Press Posted December 16, 2024 4:40 pm 1 min read Descrease article font size Increase article font size The federal government is promising to spend $1.3 billion over six years to beef up Canada’s border security but still won’t say exactly how that money will be spent. The figures are part of the government’s fall economic statement which was tabled in the House of Commons this afternoon in Ottawa.The urgency to shore up the border comes amid a threat from president-elect Donald Trump to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian imports if Canada doesn’t address the perception that migrants and f...

The Liberal government’s fall economic statement arrived in a cloud of controversy Monday after Chrystia Freeland’s abrupt resignation as the minister of finance. The fall fiscal update will largely see the federal government look inward for growth opportunities as the spectre of United States president-elect Donald Trump’s protectionist policies loom large over the Canadian economy.Within the 270-page fiscal update, the federal government offers an overview of risks to Canada’s economy tied to Trump’s return to office. Until he begins his second term in January, however, the specifics of how his policies including potential tariffs will impact Canada are unknown.The Liberals eye domestic spending on artificial intelligence and opening the floodgates to more investments from Canadian pensi...

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh on Monday called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “to resign,” adding that “all options” were on the table when asked if he would support a non-confidence motion. Speaking to reporters in Ottawa hours after Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister, Singh said Canadians were facing a range of economic issues from expensive groceries to high home prices and the threat of tariffs from an incoming Trump administration next year.“Instead of focusing on these issues, Justin Trudeau and the Liberals are focused on themselves. They’re fighting themselves instead of fighting for Canadians. And for that reason, today, I’m calling on Justin Trudeau to resign,” Singh said.“He has to go.” 0:42 ...

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has announced her resignation from the federal cabinet, placing the blame on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for her decision. The announcement came in a letter she shared on X (formerly Twitter) Monday morning before Freeland was scheduled to present the fall economic statement before the House of Commons and less than an hour before a lock up of journalists for an embargoed reading of the document was due to begin.Department of Finance officials confirmed just after 1:30 p.m. Eastern that the fall economic statement will be delivered as per schedule at 4 p.m. Eastern Monday.In the letter addressed to Trudeau, Freeland wrote, “On Friday, you informed me that you no longer want me to serve as your Finance Minister and offered me another position in Cabinet....

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday announced that she has resigned from the federal cabinet, seemingly placing the blame on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for her decision. The announcement came in a letter she shared on X (formerly Twitter) Monday morning.Here is the text of Freeland’s letter.“Dear Prime Minister, Story continues below advertisement It has been the honour of my life to serve in government, working for Canada and Canadians. We have accomplished a lot together.On Friday, you told me you no longer want me to serve as your Finance Minister and offered me another position in the Cabinet. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered...