Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland formally steps down from the House of Commons today, ending more than a decade as a Liberal member of Parliament as she assumes a voluntary advisory role with the Ukrainian government.
Freeland’s departure reduces the Liberal caucus to 170 seats, leaving Prime Minister Mark Carney two seats short of a majority. The party had gained two additional seats last year after two Conservative MPs crossed the floor.
A byelection must now be called in the Toronto riding of University–Rosedale, which Freeland represented since 2013. Under the Canada Elections Act, the writ must be issued between 11 and 180 days after the Speaker of the House notifies Elections Canada of the vacancy, making March the earliest possible date for the vote.
The University–Rosedale Liberal riding association did not immediately comment on potential candidates. The seat is widely regarded as a Liberal stronghold; Freeland won nearly two-thirds of the vote in the last election.
With Freeland’s seat now vacant, the House of Commons stands at 170 seats for the Liberals and 172 for opposition parties combined. The Conservatives hold 142 seats, followed by the Bloc Québécois with 22, the New Democratic Party with seven, and the Green Party with one.
Freeland’s exit may not be the last challenge for Carney’s government. Several diplomatic postings in the United Kingdom and Europe are expected to open soon, potentially drawing more MPs out of caucus. Separately, Conservative MP Matt Jeneroux has said he plans to resign his Edmonton seat before the spring.
Freeland’s resignation follows a series of transitions over recent months. In September, she stepped away from cabinet to serve as Carney’s special representative on Ukraine’s reconstruction. In November, the Rhodes Trust announced she would become its new chief executive officer effective July 1, prompting her planned relocation to Oxford, England.
Earlier this week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Freeland’s appointment as an adviser on Ukraine’s economic development. Later the same day, Freeland said she would resign both as Carney’s Ukraine adviser and as an MP. On Wednesday, she confirmed she had informed the Speaker that her resignation would take effect Jan. 9.
Freeland has earned an international reputation as a strong advocate for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, including efforts to coordinate the seizure of Russian assets to help fund Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Opposition MPs criticized the timing of her resignation, arguing she should have vacated her seat before accepting the advisory role. In a statement posted on social media, Freeland said the position is unpaid and that she consulted the federal ethics commissioner and followed his guidance.
“It has been an immense honour to serve my constituents and all Canadians in Parliament since 2013,” she said. “Going forward, I will continue to support and help build Canada in every way I can, while championing the brave fight of the people of Ukraine.”
Freeland previously held several senior cabinet roles under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, including deputy prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, and minister of international trade. Her high-profile resignation as finance minister in 2024—hours before she was scheduled to present the federal fall economic statement—triggered political turmoil that ultimately led to Trudeau’s resignation and Carney’s rise to the Liberal leadership.
Under Carney, Freeland later served as minister of transport and internal trade. She finished second in the Liberal leadership race last March, well behind Carney, who secured 86 per cent of the vote.