Freeland Has Confidence in Her Role After Trudeau Meetings

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrive at the Hamilton Convention Centre in Hamilton, Ont., ahead of the Liberal Cabinet retreat, on Jan. 23, 2023. The Canadian Press/Nick Iwanyshyn

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said she has the confidence she needs to stay in her cabinet roles after talking several times with the prime minister in recent days.

Ms. Freeland, however, did not directly say whether she received assurances from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that she would remain in her position.

“The prime minister is a very eloquent man and leader and it’s for the prime minister to speak for himself,” she said while taking questions from reporters on the issue during a press conference in Markham, Ont., on July 16.

Asked about his intentions for Ms. Freeland on July 11, Mr. Trudeau said he has “full confidence in her abilities.”

Mr. Trudeau and his government have been addressing questions from the media following a July 11 report on the Globe and Mail based on an anonymous source that senior officials in the Prime Minister’s Office are concerned about Ms. Freeland’s effectiveness in communicating the government’s economic message.

Ms. Freeland, who also serves as finance minister, attended the same community events as Mr. Trudeau in the Greater Toronto Area over the weekend, and said she spent a lot of time with the prime minister.

She added that she had a “long conversation” with Mr. Trudeau on July 12 and another meeting with him in Ottawa on July 15.

Pressed by reporters on whether she received assurances about staying in her position, Ms. Freeland spoke about the need to have the support and confidence of the prime minister to serve in cabinet.

“That is especially true for the deputy prime minister and finance minister,” Ms. Freeland said, adding that her job involves saying “no a lot of the time” with regard to government spending. “That’s how we keep our AAA credit rating.”

“In order to do my job effectively, in order to serve the amazing people who are here today, and the people across the country, I do have to feel that I have that confidence,” she said. “What I will say to everyone here speaking for myself, is I do have the confidence that I need to do my job effectively.”

Mark Carney

Ms. Freeland was also asked about Mr. Trudeau’s efforts to recruit former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to join the Liberals.

Mr. Trudeau confirmed last week he has been talking to Mr. Carney “for years” about entering federal politics, without mentioning in what capacity.

Ms. Freeland said at the press conference she’s known Mr. Carney for a “very long time” and speaks with him often.

“He’s actually my son’s godfather,” she said.

Mr. Carney previously served as the Bank of England governor and is currently the U.N. Special Envoy for Climate Action and Finance and chair and head of transition investing at Brookfield Asset Management.

“I am really glad that he has come out as a Liberal and I’m grateful for any support he can offer our party or government and our country,” said Ms. Freeland.

Mr. Carney has not denied being interested in eventually running for the Liberal leadership amid speculation that he could be a potential replacement for Mr. Trudeau.