Chrystia Freeland, former cabinet minister, has been named CEO of Oxford University’s Rhodes Trust charity. Freeland herself is a Rhodes scholar who obtained a master’s degree from the school, and she is expected to move back to Oxford, UK next summer. As part of the position Freeland would answer to a board of trustees, but she will lead the Rhodes Trust herself.
Freeland held many cabinet portfolios throughout the premiership of Justin Trudeau. However, she resigned from cabinet in September and was appointed special envoy to Ukraine, a diplomatic position. Freeland herself is of Ukrainian descent, has been a journalist in Ukraine, and has advocated for Ukraine, but her new position came with no office or staff and required her to answer directly to Carney. The envoy appointment is perhaps an indicator of the deteriorating relationship between Freeland and Carney, who is the godfather of one of Freeland’s children. Freeland was Carney’s only major competitor in the Liberal leadership election earlier this year, and Carney may have ousted her from cabinet in order to secure his own hold over the Liberal party caucus.
Freeland has stated that she will not run in the next Canadian election, which will happen on or before 2029. Freeland has not stated whether she would resign her parliamentary seat in the near future.