National

Fiscal update in limbo after Freeland quits as finance minister

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 16 Dec, 2024 11:44 AM

The Liberal government's plans to unveil a fall economic update on Monday were thrown into disarray by the finance minister's abrupt resignation.

Chrystia Freeland released a letter Monday morning announcing her decision to step aside after she and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada."

See my letter to the Prime Minister below // Veuillez trouver ma lettre au Premier ministre ci-dessous pic.twitter.com/NMMMcXUh7A
— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) December 16, 2024

Freeland's letter cited the threat of tariffs from incoming U.S. president Donald Trump and said she made "strenuous efforts this fall to manage our spending" to counter that threat.

But, she said, Trudeau's decision to offer her a different cabinet post on Friday has shown a lack of confidence in her as minister and she hs stepped away from cabinet altogether.

Media and stakeholders were gathered in Ottawa in the morning to receive embargoed copies of the fall economic statement, but the documents were not handed out. Media have been told the documents will be distributed at 1:45 p.m. ET.

Freeland was set to present the fiscal update in the House of Commons later on Monday afternoon.

A senior government source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the plans, said a cabinet minister will present the update in Parliament. It is not yet clear who that will be, though the source noted it does not have to be the finance minister.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada Post workers go on strike Friday morning, disrupting deliveries

Canada Post workers hit the picket lines Friday after contract negotiations with their employer failed to conclude by the strike deadline — and Ottawa is signalling it's not ready to intervene. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said approximately 55,000 workers are striking, claiming little progress has been made in the bargaining process.

Canada Post workers go on strike Friday morning, disrupting deliveries

Whistler, Pemberton, Sea-to-Sky Highway in B.C.to get 'significant snowfall'

Whistler is expected to get its first "significant snowfall" of the season this weekend. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the winter resort as well as for Pemberton and the Sea-to-Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler.

Whistler, Pemberton, Sea-to-Sky Highway in B.C.to get 'significant snowfall'

Vancouver police say one person taken into custody, later released, in hate case

One person was taken into custody over what Vancouver Police say is part of a hate-crime investigation. A statement from the department says officers from its Major Crime Section and Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant on a home in the 1800 block of East 1st Avenue on Thursday.

Vancouver police say one person taken into custody, later released, in hate case

Man arrested for theft of logging truck

Mounties in Quesnel say they have arrested a man who was caught with a stolen logging truck, who then tried to escape on a stolen motorcycle. Police say the truck, worth 65-thousand dollars, was taken early yesterday morning.

Man arrested for theft of logging truck

B.C.'s chief vet tells clinics to set up bird flu protocols amid human exposure risk

Dr. Theresa Burns says in a letter to vets last week that reporting of sick and dead wild birds across the province has increased recently and clinics handling wild birds must have safety procedures in place and ensure staff are trained and equipped with proper protection.

B.C.'s chief vet tells clinics to set up bird flu protocols amid human exposure risk

Police in B.C. put lid on grocery store theft, but thousands in cheese still ruined

RCMP say officers interrupted a theft at a North Vancouver grocery store that involved thousands of dollars worth of cheese. They say it happened at the Whole Foods Market in the early morning hours on Sept. 29, but they still haven't been able to identify a suspect.