Prime Minister Justin Trudeau jokingly alluded to Chrystia Freeland’s resignation as finance minister at the Liberal holiday party.
Canada’s deputy prime minister resigned from Trudeau’s cabinet on Monday, saying they have been at odds for weeks about how to govern the country.
In a statement shared on X, Freeland said Trudeau had told her last Friday that he no longer wanted her to serve as his finance minister and offered her another position in the cabinet.
“Upon reflection, I have concluded that the only honest and viable path is for me to resign from the cabinet,” she stated.
After nearly two days of silence from the Liberal party leader, Trudeau lightly addressed it during a speech at the holiday party on Tuesday.
Global National reporter Mackenzie Gray shared a clip of the prime minister’s speech on X. Trudeau was met with loud cheers as he greeted the crowd on the podium.
“It has been an eventful couple of days. It hasn’t been easy, and that’s why I’m so happy to see you guys,” he said.
He stressed that the Liberal party is like “a big family” and how happy he was to be among them.
“Now, like most families, sometimes we have fights around the holidays,” he joked. “But of course, like most families, we find our way through it.”
“You know, I love this country. I deeply love this party. I love you guys, and love is what families are all about,” he added.
PMJT is speaking at the Liberal christmas party saying it’s been an “eventful couple of days,” adding that the Liberal party is “a big family. Now like most families sometimes we have fights around the holidays but like those families, we find a way through it” #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/iizKGzYK37
— Mackenzie Gray (@Gray_Mackenzie) December 18, 2024
Freeland was attending the holiday party with her husband and child.
In a video shared by CTV News National reporter Judy Trinh on X, the deputy prime minister said she was “happy to be with her family” as she entered the event.
Former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland attends the Liberal Holiday party – one day after she quit after disagreeing with the Prime Minister on how to spend government revenue
She’s with her and staff and dressed in Liberal red #cdnpoli @CTVNews pic.twitter.com/WIYlYqERjJ— Judy Trinh (@judyatrinh) December 18, 2024
A lot has happened since Freeland’s shocking announcement.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre have joined in on the chorus of MPs calling on the prime minister to step down.
Canadians were also stunned by Freeland’s announcement, taking to social media to share their reactions.
US President-elect Donald Trump even chimed in, saying the former finance minister “will not be missed!”
Despite the shake-up, the federal government was able to lay out its new border security plan on Tuesday, as Trump’s tariff threats loom.