Who is Chrystia Freeland?

May 18, 2024

Chrystia Freeland is a Canadian politician and journalist. She is currently serving as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the Canadian government. Born in Peace River, Alberta, Freeland grew up in a politically active family. Her grandfather was a leader in the Ukrainian Canadian community and her mother was a prominent lawyer and human rights advocate.

Freeland began her career as a journalist, working for various publications including the Financial Times, The Globe and Mail, and Reuters. She gained recognition for her in-depth coverage of the collapse of the Soviet Union and later became the editor of Thomson Reuters Digital. In 2013, she made the transition into politics, winning a by-election for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons. She was quickly promoted to various positions within the Liberal Party, and in 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed her as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

As Foreign Affairs Minister, Freeland played a crucial role in the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) as Canada’s chief negotiator. She also spearheaded efforts to secure the release of two Canadian citizens who were detained in China. In November 2019, she was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role, Freeland became a key player in the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing