MP Chrystia Freeland has resigned from her position of Minister of Transport and Internal Trade, resulting in her not being in Cabinet for the first time in her political career. Prime Minister Mark Carney has appointed Freeland as Canada’s Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. Freeland has commented that she will not be defending her federal seat in the next Canadian election.
Freeland has deep ties to Ukraine as she is of Ukrainian descent and has experience working in the country as journalist. Freeland has previously been under fire for not disclosing that her grandfather, Michael Chomiak, was a Nazi collaborator.
Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre has insinuated that Freeland’s resignation likely came from internal disagreements regarding Carney’s Cabinet and finances. This inference is being made from Freeland’s public falling out with Justin Trudeau that led to the former Prime Minister’s exit from office in a matter of weeks. Critics of the Liberal Government point that Carney is perhaps consolidating his power within the party by ousting longstanding MPs from Cabinet in favour of fellow federal newcomers such as Gregor Robertson, especially since a more diplomatic position such as special envoy is considered a step down in the political ladder from the coveted Cabinet positions.
Other have criticized why Canada needs a special envoy to Ukraine in the first place. Ukraine is not a member of NATO, neither does it have any form of formal trade agreement with Canada. Military and economic aid to Ukraine has also been unpopular to a growing segment of the Canadian population. A Canadian reconstruction effort in the country will likely face opposition from the tax base who must fund it.