Canada has its first female finance minister as Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was sworn in as finance minister this morning.
Freeland is taking the job after Bill Morneau announced his resignation last night amid the Trudeau government We Charity scandal. Despite Morneau's resignation the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner investigation will continue said the office in a tweet this morning. Freeland will retain her position as deputy prime minister as well.
This is just the latest in a long list of promotions Freeland has received as she assended through the ranks of both the cabinet and the Liberal Party. Five years ago Freeland started her tenure as Minister of International Trade cutting her teeth negotiation the new trade agreement between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. She was then promoted to minister of foreign affairs, minister of intergovernmental affairs and deputy prime minister becoming one of the Liberal Party's most powerful members.
However with Morneau retiring in the middle of a global recession caused by a global pandemic the incoming minister certainly has her work cut out for her.
Replacing Freeland as minister of intergovernmental affairs is Dominic LeBlanc MP for the New Brunswick riding Beauséjour and currently the president of the Queen's Privy Council, a position he will maintain.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to make an announcement at 12:30 PST today according to his official itinerary.
This is a developing story.
