Chrystia Freeland, member of Parliament for University-Rosedale, will be leaving her position to assume other roles including an assignment from Ukrainian President  Volodymyr Zelensky as an economic adviser. 

Prior to her resignation,  Conservative critics said the appointment conflicted with her role as a Canadian MP, even though it is unpaid.

Zelensky said Freeland will help his country rebuild after the war and become more resilient in the future. “Chrystia is highly skilled in these matters and has extensive experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations,” said  Zelensky in a social media post.

In an announcement on Jan. 5, 2026, Freeland said “Ukraine is at the forefront of today’s global fight for democracy, and I welcome this chance to contribute on an unpaid basis…I am grateful to have been your representative [in University-Rosedale].”

Freeland also recently accepted the position of CEO of the Rhodes Trust which administers Rhodes Scholarships to Oxford University. She is relocating to the U.K. to start this position on July 1, 2026.

An accomplished politician, Freeland was elected to Parliament in 2015. She served various cabinet roles including minister of finance and deputy prime minister.

  —Brian Burchell/Gleaner News

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