In a shocking turn of events, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced her resignation this morning, just hours before she was set to deliver an economic update. In a letter, she stated that resigning was her only “honest and viable path.” This unexpected resignation has left many wondering what the future holds for Justin Trudeau’s government. The new finance minister, Dominic LeBlanc, has been thrust into the spotlight as discussions swirl around what possible next steps Trudeau could take.
As the day unfolded, Ottawa Bureau Chief Mercedes Stephenson delved into what was happening behind the scenes and what might be going through Trudeau’s mind. The sudden departure of Freeland meant that the fall economic statement was not presented as planned, with Government House Leader Karina Gould stepping in to deliver the update. Mackenzie Gray’s report on the mini-budget paints a less than favorable picture of the government’s finances.
Meanwhile, a meeting of provincial and territorial leaders took place in Toronto, where the focus was on responding to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs on Canadian exports. Freeland’s resignation adds complexity to Canada’s response to these challenges. Colin D’Mello provides more insight into this evolving situation.
In another development, Bashar al-Assad appears to have issued his first statement since fleeing to Russia, claiming he did not intend to leave Syria and was airlifted out by Russian forces. Redmond Shannon shares more on this surprising announcement.
Additionally, Canada Post has confirmed that mail will begin moving tomorrow after a month-long strike. The backlog may pose challenges with less than two weeks until Christmas, raising concerns about the timely delivery of holiday packages.
Overall, the resignation of Chrystia Freeland has sent shockwaves through the Canadian government, leaving many uncertainties about the future direction of Trudeau’s leadership. Stay tuned for further developments as the situation continues to unfold.
Watch the video by Global News
Video “Global National: Dec. 16, 2024 | What’s next for Trudeau after shocking Freeland resignation?” was uploaded on 12/17/2024 to Youtube Channel Global News