Downtown Toronto is set for a federal byelection after Chrystia Freeland announced she plans to resign her University—Rosedale seat “in the coming weeks.”
Freeland made the announcement Monday, the same day Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed he had appointed the longtime Liberal MP as an adviser on Ukraine’s economic development.
“Chrystia is highly skilled in these matters and has extensive experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post.
Freeland, who has Ukrainian heritage, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion. She said her new advisory role will be unpaid.
“In accepting this voluntary position, I will be stepping aside from my role as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine,” Freeland wrote on social media Monday afternoon. “In the coming weeks I will also leave my seat in Parliament. I want to thank my constituents for their years of confidence in me. I am so grateful to have been your representative.”
First elected in University—Rosedale in 2015, Freeland served as deputy prime minister and finance minister in former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s government. She continued as the prime minister’s special representative for Ukraine’s reconstruction until announcing her departure this week. In September, Freeland had already indicated she would not seek re-election.
The downtown Toronto riding is considered a safe Liberal seat. Freeland won 64 per cent of the vote in last April’s election.
Once Freeland formally resigns, Prime Minister Mark Carney will have up to six months to call a byelection.