On the day of his “shiny” first term, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared outside Ottawa’s Rideau Hall to inaugurate Canada’s first gender-balanced cabinet. He explained it simply by saying, “It’s 2015,” but the comment became integral to his then-popular political brand.
Standing directly behind her right shoulder in the front row was newly sworn-in Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Mr. Freeland, who had been one of Trudeau’s most valuable and versatile political allies for years, abruptly resigned from his cabinet on Monday, surprising Ottawa. Her well-thought-out resignation letter gave no indication that her decision was rooted in gender dynamics, but in any case, gender is part of the conversation about her resignation and Trudeau’s future. It became.
Former Liberal cabinet ministers and political scientists say they weren’t surprised, largely because issues of gender and feminism have been part of Trudeau’s Liberal brand from the beginning.
“A Feminist”
Ms Freeland resigned after the prime minister lost confidence in her ability as finance minister and wanted to assign her a new role after she resisted a decision to widen the budget deficit far beyond what she had previously promised. He said he felt he had to.
Dominique LeBlanc was sworn in as her replacement late Monday.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poièvre said the entire situation was an example of Trudeau’s “hypocrisy” regarding feminism.
The Nation’s ‘What Matters’ panel analyzes Chrystia Freeland’s sudden cabinet resignation and how it could affect Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political future. .
“Just blame Chrystia Freeland and make her wear it all, some feminists,” Poièvre said at a news conference in Mississauga, Ont., on Tuesday.
“In the same week that Prime Minister Trudeau insulted the American people by not electing a woman president, he was busy throwing his own female deputy prime minister under the bus and replacing her with a man.”
prominent Conservative Party member Michelle Rempel Garner asked how women in the caucus can “protect that man instead of calling an election now,” and Alberta Premier Daniel Smith said Trudeau If he is going to continue proclaiming himself “such an advocate,” he said, he needs to start proving himself. of women. ”
Rep. Melissa Lanzman referred to “old boys’ clubs” as being responsible.
“Now is the time for leadership that can be trusted in the seriousness of this moment, rather than this quack prime minister’s fake feminism,” said Lanzmann, who heads the Conservative party at Thornhill.
Both women and men quit
The Trudeau government has enacted many policies and changes regarding women’s benefits. For example, $10 a day childcare, increased maternity leave, and a hard line that Liberal MPs and candidates must support pro-choice. Prime Minister Trudeau’s gender-balanced cabinet included women in key roles such as finance, defense, and foreign affairs.
Some women have been with Trudeau for years. Katie Telford remains the only chief of staff to serve, while other prime ministers, including Stephen Harper, Jean Chretien and Brian Mulroney, have held four or five chief of staff posts.
Women and men alike have resigned from Trudeau’s cabinet over the years for a variety of reasons, including their working relationships with the prime minister and other reasons. do not have in all. Freeland’s own predecessor, Bill Morneau, I abandoned my financial portfolio in 2020 Regarding ethical debates.
But former Liberal MP Selina Caesar Chavannes said she believes there is a pattern of female ministers being “thrown under the bus” after “challenging someone named Trudeau.”
caesar chavannes Quit the Liberal Party and become an independent member In 2019, after he said the prime minister had been hostile to him over a disagreement. Prime Minister Trudeau endorsed two prominent women, Jane Philpott and Jody Wilson-Raybould. removed from the Freedom Caucus After they resigned, each position He was appointed to the Cabinet in the same year.
Former MP Selina Caesar Chavannes says Chrystia Freeland’s resignation is the result of Justin Trudeau’s pattern of throwing women “under the bus” when he finds himself in trouble. Cesar Chavannes resigned from the Liberal Party caucus in 2019, citing “hostile” conduct during Trudeau’s resignation.
“I don’t want to specify the gender, but we have to recognize…the body count continues to rise,” Cesar Chavannes said in an interview with CBC. canada tonight on monday.
“This is a moment of leadership for Canadians, and we’ve had enough of leaders deciding that every time someone challenges them about something they have the authority to say, like economics, they’re going to throw them out.” I need to say that.” ”
Prime Minister Trudeau did not comment directly on Freeland’s resignation, but in a speech at an unrelated event, he said Monday was not an “easy day.”
The two actually met at the Freedom Caucus meeting late Monday. Freeland walked up to Trudeau and gave him a hug, people familiar with the matter told CBC News.
Prime Minister Trudeau opened the door.
The political science professors said Freeland’s letter clearly explained her reasons for resigning from the cabinet, but both were surprised that part of the political conversation focused on her gender. He said he did not.
One said Trudeau opened the door to such criticism as soon as he made feminism part of his brand more than a decade ago.
Liberal MPs are calling for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign following Chrystia Freeland’s shocking cabinet resignation on Monday. CBC’s Aaron Wherry explains Prime Minister Trudeau’s possible next moves and how the impending inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump is complicating matters.
Fiona McDonald, associate professor of political science at the university, said: “I think it’s natural to respect her explanation of why she made the decision, but when the prime minister makes gender relevant, I think this issue is also related.” in northern British Columbia.
“For many of us who have watched this prime minister identify as a feminist, it is frustrating to see this kind of self-congratulatory statement when we have seen so many actions that suggest otherwise. I think you are feeling that.”
Melanie Thomas, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, said the only gender-biased element behind Freeland’s resignation letter was when entitled women ignored advice from powerful men. He said it was a “frustration” to experience.
Still, those who are focusing Freeland’s resignation on the fact that she is a woman are oversimplifying the issue and distracting from the real factors that Freeland cited in her decision. She said there is. Thomas said the fact that conversations like this exist shows that Canadian politics still views conflict through long-standing gender lenses.
“I don’t know if I’d go so far as to say that it devalues what she’s doing, but again, to think that gender dynamics haven’t structured the whole way we look at this issue… It’s so commonplace and so cute.” ”
Just a week ago, Prime Minister Trudeau spoke directly to Freeland while sharing his views on feminism with Equal Voice, an organization that promotes women in politics.
“I have been touting the adage, “Include women to change politics,” but this means more than just words to us. We are taking action to make it a reality, and we are We have appointed a female finance minister.”
“I want you to know that I am and always will be a proud feminist.”
