Longtime Liberal cabinet minister Chrystia Freeland has announced she will officially vacate her seat in the House of Commons by the end of this week. The move comes after she accepted a voluntary, unpaid position advising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on economic development issues.
Accelerated Departure Following Criticism
Freeland, the MP for University—Rosedale, had initially stated she would leave Parliament in the "coming weeks." This timeline drew immediate criticism from opposition members of Parliament and other political observers, who argued she should step down immediately upon accepting the foreign advisory role.
In response to the pressure, Freeland updated her plans. She informed the Speaker of the House of Commons on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, that she would resign her seat effective Friday, January 9, 2026.
Details of the New Role and Ethics Clearance
In a social media post, Freeland confirmed her new position. "One of the roles I will be taking on is as an unpaid adviser on economic issues to the president of Ukraine," she wrote. "This is a volunteer position and I have consulted throughout with the ethics commissioner and followed his advice."
Freeland emphasized her lifelong commitment to Ukraine's cause, stating she would continue "championing the brave fight of the people of Ukraine." She also pledged to "continue to support and help build Canada in every way I can."
A Decade of Service and Future Endeavors
Chrystia Freeland has been a Member of Parliament since 2013. She served in high-profile roles within the Justin Trudeau government, notably as the country's first female finance minister and as deputy prime minister. Last year, she ran for the Liberal leadership, ultimately losing to current Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Her departure from politics was already anticipated. Last fall, she stepped down from cabinet and announced she would not seek re-election, planning to pursue full-time professional roles outside of politics.
One of those confirmed roles is as the CEO of the Rhodes Trust, the educational charity based in Oxford, England. She is scheduled to begin that position on July 1, 2026.
Reflecting on her time in office, Freeland posted, "It has been an immense honour to serve my constituents and all Canadians in Parliament since 2013." Her resignation marks the end of a significant chapter for one of Canada's most prominent political figures of the past decade.
