The federal Liberal government is facing mounting criticism from opposition parties and ethics watchdogs over former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland's decision to delay her resignation as a Member of Parliament. The controversy stems from her acceptance of an unpaid advisory position with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Carney Defends Freeland's Decision in Paris
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the situation on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, during a news conference at the Canadian Embassy in Paris. Carney stated he did not request Freeland to remain as the MP for University—Rosedale but expressed support for her eventual plan to leave Parliament. "My judgment was that taking that role would be consistent with resigning as an MP and I welcomed her doing that," Carney told reporters via The Canadian Press.
Carney was in Paris discussing security guarantees for Ukraine with international allies as the country considers a potential peace deal with Russia. Freeland had previously served as Canada's first female finance minister under Justin Trudeau and was Carney's special representative for Ukraine's reconstruction until she resigned from that post on Monday.
Opposition MPs Voice 'Deeply Concerning' Ethics Questions
The core of the criticism focuses on the timeline of Freeland's departure. She announced her immediate exit from the Ukraine reconstruction role but plans to resign her parliamentary seat at a later, unspecified date. This means she will continue to collect an MP's salary while advising a foreign government.
Conservative MP Michael Barrett was vocal in his disapproval, calling the situation "deeply concerning" in a social media post. "Beyond the fact that serving Canadians is not a part-time job, the position she has accepted with a foreign government, paid or unpaid, raises the question of whose interests will be prioritized," said Barrett, who represents Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes.
Barrett also raised significant national security concerns, noting Freeland's past cabinet role granted her the highest level of security clearance. "Will Ms. Freeland continue to have access to sensitive information while advising a foreign government at the highest level?" he questioned.
Widespread Calls for Immediate Resignation
The concerns are bipartisan. Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong and interim NDP leader Don Davies both stated that Freeland should have resigned as an MP before accepting the advisory position with President Zelenskyy.
These political criticisms were bolstered by legal and ethical experts. Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, asserted that Freeland's plan "clearly violates the federal government ethics law." The law is designed to prevent conflicts of interest and the potential for divided loyalties when former ministers engage with external entities.
Strategic analyst Laryssa Waler, CEO of Henley Strategies, offered a different perspective on the risks. She suggested that Freeland's new role could provide ammunition for critics of the Ukrainian government, allowing them to question the motives behind international support by highlighting the close ties between Ukrainian and Canadian officials.
Freeland, who had already declared she would not seek re-election, has not publicly responded to the ethics concerns raised this week. The former journalist is slated to begin a new chapter on July 1, 2026, as the CEO of the global Rhodes Trust educational charity based in Oxford, England. A federal byelection will be called in her Toronto riding once she formally submits her resignation from the House of Commons.
