The resignation of Chrystia Freeland as Canada’s finance minister and deputy prime minister sparked a week of political turmoil, with continued calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign.
If you missed the week’s news, here’s a timeline of what happened politically in Ottawa.
On Monday, less than an hour before the scheduled start of a meeting of journalists who would read the autumn economic statement, Chrystia Freeland announced that she had resigned as finance minister.
She was not the only minister to leave the cabinet, as Sean Fraser announced he would not seek re-election next year and would step down as housing minister.
Freeland announced her dramatic departure in a letter she shared on the social media website X (formerly known as Twitter) shortly after 9 a.m. ET.
In the letter 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 Cabinet position.”
“After reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the only honest and viable path is to resign from the Cabinet,” he added.
Freeland noted that in recent weeks she has found herself increasingly “at odds” with Trudeau.
His announcement generated hours of uncertainty, with a lack of clarity over whether or not the fall economic statement would be presented.
Department of Finance officials confirmed shortly after 1:30 pm ET that the fall economic report would be delivered as scheduled at 4 pm ET on Monday.
The leader of the Government House, Karina Gould, presented it in the House of Commons.
At the same time as Gould was presenting the autumn economic statement, Dominic LeBlanc, a long-time member of the Liberal cabinet, added the finance portfolio to his responsibilities.
LeBlanc, who has been in cabinet since 2015 and has been a Liberal MP since 2000, was sworn into office Monday at Rideau Hall and became minister of Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs.
The unrest sparked fresh criticism from opposition parties, and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, whose party currently keeps the Liberals in power, called on Trudeau to resign.
Singh said Canadians face a host of economic problems, from expensive food to high home prices and the threat of tariffs from the incoming Trump administration next year.
“Instead of focusing on these issues, Justin Trudeau and the Liberals are focusing on themselves. They are fighting against themselves instead of fighting for Canadians. And for that reason, today I call on Justin Trudeau to resign,” Singh said.
“He has to go.”
The Liberal minority has survived recent confidence tests with NDP support.
The Conservatives repeatedly called a question period on Monday for Trudeau to test the confidence of the House of Commons or go to Rideau Hall and ask the Governor General for an early election.
“Justin Trudeau has lost control and yet he clings to power,” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in remarks outside the House of Commons just before question period.
Trudeau addressed the Liberal group that same night.
Most Liberal MPs did not respond to reporters’ questions as they left the meeting, saying what happens in caucus is confidential.
Ruby Sahota said Trudeau had her full support and James Maloney said the prime minister had the confidence of the caucus. But Chad Collins, who publicly called for the prime minister’s resignation on Monday, disagreed.
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“We are not united. There are still several of our members who feel that we need a change in leadership. “I am one of those,” he said.
Later Monday night, Trudeau attended a Christmas party for the Laurier Club, made up of Liberal donors.
Members of Parliament began their vacation on Tuesday, capping a tumultuous fall session filled with no-confidence votes, filibusters, stalled legislation, a growing deficit and the resignation of the finance minister.
In an interview with The Canadian Press, Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said Trudeau would reflect on what he heard in the Liberal caucus.
“Several colleagues in the group have said that the prime minister has said he will reflect both on the decision Minister Freeland made and what he heard from members of his own group,” Wilkinson said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
“I think we all need to give him some time to reflect, and I respect the fact that he takes some time to reflect.”
Speaking at the Liberal group’s annual Christmas party, Trudeau attempted to deliver a message of unity.
“Like most families, we sometimes have fights during the holidays. But of course, like most families, we found a way out,” he said.
Several former cabinet ministers called for Trudeau to resign, including former Environment Minister Catherine McKenna on Tuesday.
“All Liberal MPs should call for the Prime Minister to resign,” he said in a social media post. “The surest way to elect a Conservative majority and lose all the progress we have made is for them to stay. And we need to focus on the US tariff threat. It’s over.”
On Wednesday, the chorus in favor of Trudeau’s resignation grew louder within the Liberal caucus.
New Brunswick MP Jenica Atwin joined those calls on Wednesday, telling the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal that she will not run again unless Trudeau resigns.
On Wednesday, New Brunswick MP Wayne Long, who was among the first MPs to call for Trudeau’s resignation earlier this year, wrote to the entire caucus calling the “mishandling” of Freeland’s resignation “shameful.” and “an indictment of chaos and insularity.” within the Prime Minister’s inner circle.”
Long said it should be a “clear wake-up call” and encouraged all MPs to speak out about the need for Trudeau to save the party from a “historic defeat.”
On Thursday, Trudeau received the support of newly appointed Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc.
LeBlanc, who was in New Brunswick, was asked during a news conference whether Trudeau has the full support of his cabinet to remain in office after the political tumult within the government in recent days following Freeland’s sudden resignation.
“Yes,” LeBlanc said in response.
LeBlanc was also asked if he would consider the opportunity to lead the country if given the opportunity.
“If the prime minister has the full support of his cabinet, why should we contemplate what will happen after he decides to leave?” said.
Justice Minister Arif Virani, who held a news conference Thursday morning in Toronto, did not directly say whether Trudeau has his confidence to continue as prime minister.
“I have absolute confidence in his guidance towards the work he has entrusted to me,” Virani said.
On Friday morning, Singh said his party will table a “clear no-confidence motion” in the next session of the House of Commons that could topple the Liberal government.
“Liberals don’t deserve another chance. That is why the NDP will vote to overthrow this government and give Canadians the opportunity to vote for a government that works for them,” Singh wrote in a letter shared publicly Friday morning.
The NDP leader’s letter goes on to criticize Trudeau and his government, saying the prime minister “cannot fix health care,” build affordable housing or reduce bills, and that Singh “has always fought for the people.”
That letter came out shortly before Trudeau reshuffled his cabinet on Friday.
Eight new ministers were sworn in and four other existing cabinet members were reassigned in a ceremony held at Ottawa’s Rideau Hall.
Ottawa Area MP David McGuinty, brother of former Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, is the new Public Safety Minister, replacing Dominic LeBlanc.
Élisabeth Brière becomes the new national finance minister, replacing Marie-Claude Bibeau.
Terry Duguid replaces Carla Qualtrough as Sports Minister.
Toronto-area MP Nate Erskine-Smith, who has said he does not plan to run again, is the new housing minister.
Darren Fisher is the new Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence.
Ruby Sahota will take on the dual role of minister of democratic institutions and minister responsible for the federal economic development agency for southern Ontario.
The new seniors minister is Joanne Thompson.
Rachel Bendayan was sworn in as Minister of Official Languages and Assistant Minister of Public Safety.
Anita Anand, who will continue in her role as Transport Minister, will now also be in charge of domestic trade.
Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, will take on the additional role of minister responsible for Canada’s Northern Economic Development Agency.
Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon will now also take on the employment and workforce development portfolio.
Ginette Petitpas Taylor, formerly Minister of Veterans Affairs, has been named chair of the Treasury Board, a role Anand had previously held.
—With files from The Canadian Press.
