Freeland steps down as Canada’s Ukraine envoy, will resign as MP soon

Liberal MP and former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland says she’ll be stepping down in “the coming weeks” to take on a new role as economic development advisor to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The appointment was announced Monday morning by Zelenskyy on X.

Today, I appointed Chrystia Freeland @cafreeland as an Advisor on Economic Development. Chrystia is highly skilled in these matters and has extensive experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations. Right now, Ukraine needs to strengthen its internal… pic.twitter.com/2WOl27MyVA

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 5, 2026

Freeland had been silent on the new job for most of Monday, with critics calling it a “conflict of interest” to take the appointment, and to continue in her current role of MP for Toronto-area riding of University-Rosedale.

That was until Monday afternoon, when Freeland announced she had made her decision.

Laryssa Waler runs the government-relations firm Henley Strategies, and is a Ukrainian Canadian who has been sanctioned by Russia. She says that Freeland will be an asset to Ukraine’s government, but it has to be her only priority.

“He trusts her, and he trusts her because she knows what she’s talking about,” said Waler.

Freeland has Ukrainian ancestry and has been one of the most vocal opponents in Canada to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

After serving as Justin Trudeau’s deputy prime minister from 2019-24, Freeland stepped down from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet in September, saying she wouldn’t seek re-election.

Two months later, Freeland confirmed she would be taking a job in the United Kingdom in July, but in the meantime, she still served as the Member of Parliament for the University-Rosedale riding, and as a special advisor on Ukraine in Canada.

By Monday afternoon, she announced she’d be stepping down from those roles, writing, “Ukraine is at the forefront of today’s global fight for democracy, and I welcome this chance to contribute on an unpaid basis as an economic advisor to President Zelensky,” and thanking her constituents.

Freeland’s appointment also comes as Carney touched down in Paris, to meet with other allies of Ukraine in a bid to end Russia’s war on the country.

Just a few days ago, Carney announced an additional $2.5-billion air package for the country.

Freeland’s move east also has some critics calling this a conflict of interest, something Waler is concerned will hurt Canada’s efforts to help Ukraine win the war.

“Now they’re asking questions like ‘why did Mark Carney just announce $2.5 billion in additional aid to Ukraine?’,” said Waler. “The answer should be: because it’s the right thing to do, because it’s in Canada’s best interest. The answer should not be ‘because Chrystia Freeland was just given a job by Zelenskyy’.”

Freeland’s departure means a by-election will be called in University-Rosedale and puts Carney’s government one seat further away from a majority.

With files from the Canadian Press. 

READ MORE: Chrystia Freeland steps down, takes on Ukrainian envoy position