Who is Chrystia Freeland: her career in 12 key moments

Born on August 2, 1968 in Peace River, Alberta, Chrystia Freeland studied at Harvard University, then at Oxford University.

Freeland began her career as a journalist in the 1990s, covering international stories, notably in Ukraine and Russia.

She has held senior positions in a number of influential media, including assistant editor-in-chief at the Financial Times and editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail.

In 2013, she left journalism to enter politics with the Liberal Party of Canada. She won a by-election to represent the riding of Toronto Centre.

In 2015, after the Liberals came to power under Justin Trudeau, Freeland became Minister of International Trade. She plays a crucial role in the negotiation of CETA, the free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union. She will hold this position until 2017.

In 2017, she was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this position, she firmly defends Canadian interests during the NAFTA renegotiations, which will lead to the CUSMA.

She is known for her firm stance on human rights and her criticism of regimes such as Russia and China, contributing to the implementation of targeted economic sanctions.

In August 2020, Chrystia Freeland became the first woman in Canadian history to serve as Finance Minister, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

She is also appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Canada in 2019, becoming one of the country’s most influential political figures and a close ally of Justin Trudeau.

As Finance Minister, she played a key role in Canada’s post-pandemic economic plan, focusing on green innovation, infrastructure, and support for families and businesses.

At the end of 2024, just a few days before Christmas and a few hours before an economic update, Freeland slammed the door on the Trudeau cabinet, putting the Prime Minister in an almost untenable position. However, she assured that she would stand for re-election under the Liberal banner.

She is now seen by many observers and colleagues as a potential future leader of the Liberal Party of Canada after the departure of Justin Trudeau.