Canadian cabinet minister Freeland set to take on global Ukraine role, says source

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland is expected to leave the cabinet and take on a role as a special international envoy for Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.

Freeland will remain as a legislator for the time being, said the source, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The news was first reported by the Globe and Mail newspaper.

Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent and speaks the language, has helped drive Canada’s hardline approach on Russia. Her office was not immediately available for comment and she did not comment when pressed by reporters on Tuesday.

Freeland, 57, lost badly to Mark Carney for the leadership of the ruling Liberal Party in March but stayed in government after he won an election in April.

She had served a variety of ministerial roles after the Liberals took power in late 2015. Her abrupt resignation in December 2024 from the position of finance minister fueled an internal revolt that resulted in the former prime minister Justin Trudeau announcing he would quit.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

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