Liberal MP Chrystia Freeland is stepping down from cabinet with no plans to run in the next federal election.
In a statement to social media Tuesday (Sept. 16), Freeland announced the move "with tremendous gratitude and a little sadness."
"A great strength of democracy is that no one holds political office in perpetuity," she said. "After twelve fulfilling years in public life, I know that now is the right time for me to make way for others and to seek a fresh challenge for myself."
Shortly after her announcement, Prime Minister Mark Carney said he asked Freeland to serve as Canada's new Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, in addition to her responsibilities as an MP.
He said that with her experience as a former G7 minister of finance, foreign affairs and international trade, "with deep relationships and understanding of Ukraine and its economy," she is "uniquely positioned for this timely and essential work towards a better future for Ukrainians and peace in Europe."
Freeland was re-elected in her riding of University—Rosedale in Ontario during the general federal election on April 28. In May, following the election, Prime Minister Mark Carney named her minister of Transport and Internal Trade.
In her letter, Freeland expressed gratitude to her constituents for trusting and electing her five times.
"I am not leaving to spend more time with my family or because the burden of elected office is too heavy to bear," she said. "For me and for my wonderful husband and children, public service has been a privilege and not a sacrifice.
"I am grateful for every minute, and I hope more Canadian girls and women will step up and seek the joys and rewards of elected politics for themselves and for their families."
She was first elected in 2015 to sit as the Toronto Centre MP, then again in 2015 to represent the University-Rosedale riding.
Freeland thanked Carney and former prime minister Justin Trudeau for having her serve in their cabinets.
In Trudeau's cabinet, she served as deputy prime minister from 2019 to 2024 and held several portfolios, including intergovernmental affairs and finance. She resigned from Trudeau's cabinet on Dec. 16, 2024, hours before she was set to deliver the fall economic statement, citing disagreements with the prime minister.
It led to Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and former NDP leader Jagmeet Singh saying they would support a vote of no confidence. Trudeau ultimately resigned in January 2025, leading to a search for a new Liberal Party leader.
Freeland ran in the Liberal leadership race but was beaten out by Carney, who won in a landslide.
Carney thanked Freeland for her "extraordinary service" in several cabinet roles over the last decade.
"Chrystia's versatility, raw intelligence, and principled leadership have served Canadians with distinction through extraordinary challenges and changes," he posted in a statement on social media.
"Her leadership has helped to secure historic trade negotiations, to guide the response to a global pandemic, to complete early learning and child care agreements across Canada, and most recently, to remove all federal barriers to internal trade – all while strongly representing her constituents as the Member of Parliament for University-Rosedale."
