After meetings with Trudeau, Freeland gains confidence in her role
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland expressed confidence in her ability to remain in her cabinet roles after having multiple discussions with the prime minister in recent days.
Although Ms. Freeland did not explicitly mention receiving assurances from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about her position, she stated, “The prime minister is a very eloquent man and leader and it’s for the prime minister to speak for himself,” during a press conference in Markham, Ont., on July 16.
When asked about his stance on Ms. Freeland on July 11, Mr. Trudeau affirmed his “full confidence in her abilities.”
Ms. Freeland, who also holds the position of finance minister, attended community events with Mr. Trudeau in the Greater Toronto Area over the weekend and emphasized that she had spent considerable time with him.
She elaborated that she held a “long conversation” with Mr. Trudeau on July 12 and had another meeting with him in Ottawa on July 15.
When questioned by reporters about assurances regarding her position, Ms. Freeland emphasized the importance of having the prime minister’s support and confidence to carry out her duties in the cabinet role.
“That is especially true for the deputy prime minister and finance minister,” she stated, highlighting the need to make challenging decisions regarding government spending to maintain the AAA credit rating.
“In order to do my job effectively, I need to feel that I have that confidence,” she affirmed. “I do have the confidence that I need to do my job effectively.”
Mark Carney
Ms. Freeland also addressed Mr. Trudeau’s attempts to lure former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to join the Liberal party.
Mr. Trudeau disclosed last week that he has been in discussions with Mr. Carney “for years” about entering federal politics, without specifying the exact role.
During the press conference, Ms. Freeland mentioned her long-standing relationship with Mr. Carney and their frequent communication, stating, “He’s actually my son’s godfather.”
Mr. Carney, a former Bank of England governor currently serving as the U.N. Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance and chair and head of transition investing at Brookfield Asset Management, has not disputed potential interest in seeking the Liberal leadership amid speculations of being a prospective replacement for Mr. Trudeau.