TORONTO — Longtime Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland has announced she will formally resign her seat in Parliament on Friday, bringing an end to her tenure as a federal representative for Toronto.
Freeland confirmed her decision following her acceptance of a voluntary role as an economic development adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Earlier this week, she stepped down from her position as special representative for Ukraine’s reconstruction under Prime Minister Mark Carney, signalling her intention to leave federal politics.
Her move prompted criticism from opposition members, who questioned the timing of her appointment to an advisory role with a foreign leader while still holding elected office in Canada. Freeland subsequently stated she would resign as an MP within weeks, a timeline now confirmed.
First elected in 2013, Freeland held several senior roles in government, including finance minister and deputy prime minister, and was a prominent figure in the Trudeau era. She also contested the Liberal leadership last year, ultimately losing to Carney.
A by-election will be required to fill the Toronto seat following her resignation, marking a significant transition in the city’s federal political representation.