Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland rises in the House of Commons on June 11, 2024 (Screen shot, ParlVU).
Liberal MP Chrystia Freeland says she will step down as the prime minister’s special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine after she was appointed as an adviser on economic development by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The former deputy prime minister said on Jan. 5 that she will also step down as an MP in the coming weeks after accepting the unpaid position with the Ukrainian government.
Earlier on Jan. 5, Zelenskyy said on social media that he has appointed Freeland to the post because she is “highly skilled in these matters and has extensive experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations.”
The Conservatives criticized Freeland for taking on the appointment while still an MP and holding the parliamentary secretary position of special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Freeland said in a social media statement that she took on the post because Ukraine is “at the forefront of today’s global fight for democracy.”
“In accepting this voluntary position, I will be stepping aside from my role as the Prime Minister’s Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. In the coming weeks I will also leave my seat in Parliament,” she added.
Freeland served in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet as minister of transport and internal trade until she handed in her resignation from cabinet on Sept. 16, 2025. The Toronto MP said she would also not be seeking re-election.
Carney appointed Freeland the same day as special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine, a government position as a parliamentary secretary.
After Freeland’s Jan. 5 announcement, Carney thanked her for serving as his special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine, and said she is “uniquely qualified” for her new role with the Ukrainian government.
“It is a further credit to Canada’s steadfast support for Ukraine that a Canadian is taking on this role at this crucial moment for Ukraine’s future,” Carney said.
Zelenskyy’s Changes
In his social media post on appointing Freeland, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs to increase its resilience to face the competing scenarios of a peace deal with Russia or the continuing of hostilities.
“Right now, Ukraine needs to strengthen its internal resilience – both for the sake of Ukraine’s recovery if diplomacy delivers results as swiftly as possible, and to reinforce our defense if, because of delays by our partners, it takes longer to bring this war to an end,” he said.
Zelenskyy’s announcement of Freeland’s appointment comes as he is making high-level changes among his top officials.
Zelenskyy said on Jan. 2 his chief of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov had been offered the role of presidential chief of staff, which he accepted.
Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff Andriy Yermak stepped down on Nov. 28 after his house was raided by anti-corruption units. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said the search was related to an undisclosed ongoing investigation.
The raid against Yermak came after the anti-corruption agencies revealed details of an investigation into an alleged US$100 million corruption scheme at state enterprises, with a former Zelenskyy associate counting as one of the suspects.
The scandal has rocked the country as it nears the fourth year of its war efforts to repeal Russia’s invasion.
Canada has been a major supporter of Ukraine, with Carney announcing a new commitment of $2.5 billion on Dec. 27, 2025, as Zelenskyy was visiting Canada. This has brought Canada’s total commitment to the county to nearly $22 billion.
Freeland, in her previous role as deputy prime minister and finance minister under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, had spearheaded domestic and international efforts to bolster Ukraine.
Opposition Criticism
Freeland’s appointment in the service of Ukraine was met by criticism by the Conservatives, citing a potential conflict of interest.
MP Michael Chong, who serves as his party’s foreign affairs critic, said a sitting MP cannot serve as an adviser to a foreign government. His comments were issued before Freeland announced later on Jan. 5 that she plans on resigning from her parliamentary roles.
“She must do one or the other. She should resign as advisor or as MP for University-Rosedale,” Chong said on X.
MP Dan Albas, who served as a parliamentary secretary in the Stephen Harper government, said he’s “genuinely puzzled” by how a parliamentary secretary like Freeland can simultaneously serve as an adviser to a foreign government. He made the remarks while showing a screenshot listing Freeland’s roles as an MP and as special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine (parliamentary secretary).
“Doesn’t the Conflict of Interest Act prohibit outside positions that create real or perceived conflicts?” he said on X. “Canadians deserve clarity on how this is compliant.”
MPs need to be compliant with the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, whereas appointed officials need to comply with the Conflict of Interest Act.
Margot Booth, spokesperson for the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, told The Epoch Times in an email that the two sets of rules are meant to ensure elected and appointed officials do not use their positions to further their private interests, or “improperly further the private interests of anyone else.”
Booth declined to comment on Freeland’s specific situation, citing confidentiality restrictions.
Appointment
The Rhodes Trust, a charity managing the Rhodes Scholarship, said in November that Freeland would serve as its new administrator and that she would be moving to Oxford, England, next summer to fill the role.
Freeland has not been active in the House of Commons in the fall sitting. According to official records she has not spoken in the House since June 20, 2025.
Freeland served as deputy prime minister and finance minister until Dec. 16, 2024, the day she resigned as she was expected to deliver the Fall Economic Statement for the Trudeau government.
Freeland’s resignation letter she made public, in which she accused Trudeau of not being fiscally responsible amid an impeding trade conflict with the United States, played a major role in Trudeau announcing his intention to step down three weeks later.
Freeland went on to run for the leadership of the Liberal Party, which she lost to long-time friend Mark Carney in March 2025.
Editor’s note: This article was updated with a response from the ethics commissioner, and a statement issued by Freeland later on Jan. 5.