FREELAND DAY — The finance minister’s relationship with Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU dominated Hill chatter last week. Globe and Mail reporting fueled rumors of a fiscal rift and Cabinet shift — out with longtime No. 2 CHRYSTIA FREELAND, in with forever-maybe candidate MARK CARNEY.
— Status report: Playbook asked around about the state of affairs between Cabinet’s top dogs. We found no evidence of personal animus between the two.
A source familiar with their relationship, granted anonymity to speak freely, described The Globe and Mail’s reporting as “overblown.”
— Consider the following: A few weeks ago, Trudeau tapped Freeland to lead the Canada-U.S. Cabinet committee. She’s known as fiercely loyal to Trudeau — which isn’t lost on the PM.
Would Trudeau really ask Freeland to helm a high-stakes committee amidst final prep for a Fall Economic Statement if he didn’t trust her?
— Nick Taylor-Vaisey, Politico, Dec. 16, 6:00AM.
For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada.
Our country today faces a grave challenge. The incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism, including a threat of 25 per cent tariffs.
We need to take that threat extremely seriously. That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so that we have the fiscal reserves that we may need for a coming tariff war. That means eschewing costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment.
– Chrystia Freeland tweets her letter of resignation, Dec. 16, 9:07AM.
