Freeland’s resignation holds little import for Brandon-Souris

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This article was published 17/12/2024 (275 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Even as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s surprise resignation on Monday sent shock waves across the political spectrum, its impact will remain minimal in the federal riding of Brandon-Souris, Brandon University political science professor Kelly Saunders said.

Saunders told the Sun the “shocking resignation” will have minor implications for the electoral riding, which is known to be a secure Conservative constituency.

“Locally, I don’t think this will change much. Brandon-Souris is already a safe Conservative seat. The Liberals are more vulnerable in urban areas where they are already losing ground,” she said in an interview on Monday.

In a resignation letter shared on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Freeland stated it has been the honour of her life to serve in government, working for Canada and Canadians.

“On Friday, you told me you no longer want me to serve as your finance minister and offered me 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 wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Saunders explained the broader political fallout is likely to resonate, particularly in Manitoba and across the Prairies. She added that the resignation could worsen the Liberal Party’s prospects in Winnipeg, which boasts a handful of Liberal seats and could see “further erosion of support.”

“All bets are showing they will be bleeding those seats to the NDP, and primarily (to) the Conservatives. We could be looking at the party being shut out right across Western Canada,” she added.

Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire also described Freeland’s resignation as “shocking,” criticizing the lateness of the timing scheduled to present the fall economic update.

“A fall economic statement usually takes place in the fall, not nine days before Christmas,” he told the Sun in an interview on Monday.

Maguire also noted that Freeland’s resignation signalled a refusal on her part to compromise on her principles. He drew parallels between Freeland’s situation and that of former Liberal ministers Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott, asserting that there was a recurring pattern in how Trudeau treated strong women in his cabinet.

“He throws them under the bus,” Maguire said, praising Freeland for standing her ground despite these challenges.

BU’s Saunders said she was surprised by the manner in which Freeland chose to share her decision.

“It was shocking to see such a situation unfold publicly rather than being resolved behind closed doors,” she said. “Historically, conflicts between a prime minister and a finance minister, such as during the eras of Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, were handled differently. Usually, you would have those conversations behind closed doors.”

She noted the timing was also shocking, given that the ousted minister was expected to deliver a fiscal update on Monday.

“Right now, we have no finance minister at a time when … so many families are experiencing [economic instability] with affordability issues,” she said. “Considering the looming threat of tariffs from an incoming U.S. administration, this is a pretty volatile time to be without a finance minister.”

The decision to release a resignation letter publicly, she added, was seen as a bold move, with the individual suggesting it indicated push back.

“This is someone who was a star recruit for the Prime Minister back in 2015 … and a loyal, dogged supporter all this time,” she observed. “If he’s losing his most trusted lieutenants … then who does he have left?”

Saunders also found the fact that Freeland stepped down from the cabinet but chose to remain an MP intriguing.

“The fact that she’s not resigning altogether … means there’s still more to come on this story,” she pointed out, adding that this could also imply possible leadership ambitions on Freeland’s part or a belief in a future for the party beyond the current prime minister.

Commenting on whether Freeland’s resignation has any implications for his riding, Maguire suggested the financial damage has already been done.

“Any impact (that) is going to take place has already taken place. The money has been spent. The deficit is there,” he said. He also accused the Prime Minister of mismanaging several key areas, including finance, immigration, border security, crime, affordability and housing.

Regarding the political ramifications of Freeland’s resignation, he said this development could increase the Conservatives’ chances in the next election.

Expectedly, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized the government, calling the resignation a sign of, “chaos and incompetence” within Trudeau’s team.

A press release issued on Monday by his party stated the development positioned the Conservatives as a party ready to lead amidst the Liberals’ apparent disarray.

“Canadians are struggling to make ends meet, and now we see this government falling apart,” Poilievre said. “Canadians were already anxious about the reckless $40 billion deficit the government had announced last spring. But today, in mere hours, they were expected to learn that it was much higher than that, threatening our social programs and our fiscal stability, right in the middle of a potential trade war.”

The letter further elaborated on digressions with Trudeau over the country’s fiscal direction, especially in view of growing economic uncertainty. Poilievre referenced the incoming U.S. administration’s “policy of aggressive economic nationalism,” including threats of a 25 per cent tariff, and advocated for the adoption of a cautious fiscal approach by Canada.

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

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