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Chrystia Freeland announced on Monday that she will resign from her seat as a Member of Parliament for Toronto’s University—Rosedale riding after accepting a position as an economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Freeland shared the news on X following Zelenskyy’s earlier announcement. She said, “Ukraine stands at the center of today’s global defense of democracy, and I am honored to contribute in this role on an unpaid basis. I am deeply grateful to my constituents for their trust and support over the years.”
In addition to stepping down as MP, Freeland will also relinquish her post as Canada’s special representative on Ukraine reconstruction, a position she had taken after leaving Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet in September.
President Zelenskyy highlighted Freeland’s appointment, noting her expertise would be crucial in helping Ukraine rebuild after the war. “Chrystia brings deep experience in attracting investment and driving economic transformations,” he wrote online. He added that Ukraine needs significant economic strength to both recover from the conflict and sustain its defenses. “The country must enhance its internal resilience — to support recovery if diplomatic solutions come quickly, and to reinforce defense if progress is delayed by international partners,” Zelenskyy said.
Before the announcement, Conservative MP Michael Chong and others had expressed concern over Freeland holding a parliamentary seat while serving a foreign government. “One cannot simultaneously serve as a Canadian MP and advise a foreign government. She must choose between the two,” Chong said online.
Freeland, who had been a cabinet rival to Carney, resigned from her ministerial role in September but continued as an MP. She has also confirmed plans to take up a position at Oxford University in the United Kingdom starting this July.
According to a source familiar with her Ukrainian role, which was offered on December 22 and communicated to Carney on December 24, the position is part-time and unpaid. Canadian MPs can hold outside employment but must inform the ethics commissioner and avoid activities that could provide personal financial gain.
