Monday January 5, 2026 | OTTAWA, ON [Reporting from VICTORIA, BC | Posted at 3:32 pm PT | Updated 3:44 pm PT & January 6, 2026]]
Editorial news analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
As seems to be her way, Freeland has chosen her own path — in this case getting out of elected Canadian politics in favour of a role on the international stage that aligns with her passion for supporting democracy in Ukraine.
She will now be an Advisor on Economic Development to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It’s reported as an unpaid volunteer position.
Zelenskyy kicked off the news cycle on this himself, with a post in social media around 4 am Eastern (1 am Pacific).
Ukraine’s president says Canada’s former deputy prime minister has “extensive experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations”.
Freeland’s statement:
“Ukraine is at the forefront of today’s global fight for democracy, and I welcome this chance to contribute on an unpaid basis as an economic advisor to President Zelensky,” said Chrytia Freeland in social media around 2 pm Eastern (11 am PT) today.
“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. I want to thank my constituents for their years of confidence in me. I am so grateful to have been your representative,” said Freeland.
Carney’s statement:
Carney today in social media thanked Freeland for work around issues related to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Carney says it is significant that a Canadian is taking on the new advisory role in Ukraine.
Until now, Freeland has held a position in Carney’s cabinet as Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine (Parliamentary Secretary).
“Thank you Chrystia for your important work as Special Representative for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. You are uniquely qualified for this important new role. 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. Canada will continue to stand with Ukraine to ensure a just and lasting peace,” said Carney in his social media post.
Christmas timing:
Perhaps of interest to some, this announcement comes on the eve of the traditional Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas (traditionally celebrated January 6 in Ukraine) and recognized as the 12 days of Christmas by many Ukrainians and others in Canada as well.
Since 2017, Ukraine officially celebrates Christmas on December 25 to align with the rest of the western world. It’s one more signal in the process of Ukraine wanting to be a democracy with direct alignment in the western world and also NATO.
Timeline aligned with Ukraine’s needs:
Reportedly, Freeland accepted the position from Zelenskyy on December 22 and advised Prime Minister Carney on December 24.
Carney and Zelenskyy met in Halifax just a few days later on December 27 (which seemed a bit sudden), with Carney announcing another $2.5 billion from Canada to help back Ukrainian defence efforts and restoration.
This financial support from Canada will facilitate the work that Freeland may be advising on.
Freeland’s allegiance to Canada amidst the reconstruction of Ukraine will be considered by Carney to be unshakable; this lines up a reliable independent resource for Canada within Ukraine.
This is smart politics on Carney’s part. He now has an independent Canadian intel resource — almost certainly a confidante — within Ukraine.
Raison d’être:
Arguably, Freeland likely got into elected politics (in the Trudeau Liberal era) as an extension of her interest in democracy in Ukraine.
In her career prior to becoming a Liberal MP in 2015, Freeland was a journalist in the United States covering international affairs (often on CNN) and did journalism in both Kyiv and Moscow. She is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian. She held editorial positions at the Financial Times, The Globe and Mail, and Reuters.
Freeland also authored Sale of the Century: Russia’s Wild Ride from Communism to Capitalism (2000) and Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else (2012) — the latter probably catching the eye of Justin Trudeau as he was planning his 2025 election run.
Canada’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, today on CBC’s Power and Politics said that Freeland has always been a fighter for democracy in Ukraine.
Stepping away from the Carney cabinet:
Freeland quit as Finance Minister in December 2024, ran for the Liberal leadership in January-March 2025, was a member of Carney’s Liberal cabinet in 2025 including as Minister of Transport and Internal Trade.
She is now intending to resign from her position as a downtown Toronto MP (University-Rosedale). The resignation date has not been announced but is likely to happen by the end of this month so she can take on her new role.
It was awkward if not inappropriate to carry both hats as an advisor on Ukraine to both the Canadian and Ukraine governments, as pointed out otday by leaders of both the Conservatives and the NDP. Those opposition leaders now say that Freeland should resign as MP immediately.
Freeland said in her statement today that she will not be seeking election in the next federal election.
Freeland stepping down as an MP leaves Carney one further seat short of a majority.
By-election and Liberal seats:
A by-election will need to be called within six months in University-Rosedale. This comes at a time when Carney is seen to be hoping to bump up the number of Liberal MPs in the House of Commons (primarily by wooing Conservatives to cross the floor).
The University-Rosedale riding boundaries were changed ahead of the 2015 election and against for the 2025 election. The riding now includes the entire St. George campus of the University of Toronto, plus the Toronto neighbourhoods of upscale Rosedale, Little Italy, the Annex and Yorkville, among others, plus the northwestern portion of Downtown Toronto.
===== RELATED:
- Canada backs Ukraine with $2.5 billion to unlock financing for defence efforts (December 27, 2025)
- Carney to meet with Zelenskyy in Halifax Dec 27 (December 27, 2025)
- Liberals aim for majority in 2026 House of Commons (December 21, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADA-NATIONAL | UKRAINE