Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Dominic LeBlanc as the country’s new Finance Minister following the unexpected resignation of Chrystia Freeland. The announcement was made on Monday during a swearing-in ceremony held at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
LeBlanc, who previously served as Public Safety Minister, is a long-time ally of Trudeau and a prominent figure in Canadian politics. After the ceremony, he outlined his priorities, placing emphasis on reducing the cost of living for Canadians and strengthening economic ties with the United States.
He also confirmed that he would retain his current role as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs alongside his new portfolio.
The 57-year-old Member of Parliament for New Brunswick has been a trusted political confidant of Trudeau since their youth. LeBlanc’s political career spans over two decades, having first been elected in 2000.
He is the son of former Governor-General Roméo LeBlanc, a figure remembered for his influential role in Canadian public life.
Chrystia Freeland’s resignation came as a blow to the Trudeau government amid growing economic challenges and political pressures. In her resignation letter, Freeland revealed disagreements with Trudeau over the direction of the country’s economic policies.
She wrote that the Prime Minister had informed her last week about his decision to remove her from the role and offer her a different cabinet position.
Freeland’s departure coincided with the release of the Liberal government’s economic update, which highlighted a fiscal deficit significantly larger than projected.
The deficit for the year ending March 31 was reported at 61.9 billion Canadian dollars ($43.5 billion), far exceeding the target of 40.1 billion Canadian dollars ($28.2 billion). The widening deficit has intensified public scrutiny of the government’s economic management.
The resignation marks a particularly challenging moment for Trudeau. His leadership has faced declining approval ratings, internal dissent within his party, and mounting economic uncertainty.
Trudeau’s meeting last week with provincial leaders underscored the urgent need for strategies to tackle these challenges, including a looming trade dispute with the United States.
US President-elect Donald Trump’s recent statements have added to Canada’s economic concerns. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods unless stricter measures are taken to address undocumented migration and drug trafficking.
In response, the Trudeau government has been working on plans to enhance border security and present a unified approach to the potential trade conflict.
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