Freeland hints that she has Trudeau’s support as finance minister

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OTTAWA — Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland hinted on Tuesday but would not confirm that she has Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s support to continue in her role after days of public speculation over her political future.

At a press conference in Markham, Ont., Freeland revealed that she had a “long conversation” with Trudeau on Friday, the day after a national newspaper reported on alleged tensions between her office and the Prime Minister’s Office. Freeland had spent most of Saturday with Trudeau in the Greater Toronto Area and also met him in Ottawa on Monday.

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Freeland was repeatedly asked by reporters if she had received assurances that she will continue as finance minister, but declined to give a direct answer, instead insisting that Trudeau is “a very eloquent guy” who is “really capable of speaking for himself.”

“I can speak for myself too, though,” she said. “So let me just add (that) to serve as minister in a cabinet, you do need the support and confidence of the prime minister. That is especially true for the deputy prime minister and finance minister.

“What I will say to everyone here, speaking for myself, is I do have the confidence that I need to do my job effectively.”

Freeland was speaking for the first time to the media since last week’s Globe and Mail report that senior officials in the PMO, including Trudeau’s chief of staff Katie Telford, were blaming the finance minister for not effectively selling the government’s economic message as the party was reeling from its surprising byelection defeat in a formerly safe Toronto riding on June 24.

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The report, based on unnamed sources, also mentioned recruiting former central banker Mark Carney to replace Freeland as finance minister.

The report was eerily similar to one published nearly four years ago, citing clashes between the PMO and then finance minister Bill Morneau over spending plans. Those leaks, following revelations that Morneau had to reimburse tens of thousands of dollars for trips paid by WE Charity, who had just won a major government contract, ultimately led to his resignation.

Asked about the rumours last week, Trudeau said he has been talking to Carney for years about joining the Liberal team, adding that he would be “an outstanding addition at a time when Canadians need good people to step up in politics.”

Trudeau did not, however, say if he would want to keep Freeland in her current position.

“In regards to Chrystia, she has been a close friend, an ally and partner in doing really big things for Canada and will continue to be delivering the most ambitious housing program in Canada’s history, delivering on child care, transforming our economy to be ready for the 21st century,” he said.

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“I have full confidence in her abilities and in the work we’re going to be doing together.”

On Tuesday, Freeland was asked what it is like to have her future as finance minister subject to so many questions and public scrutiny. But she shrugged off the question, saying she spends “very little time feeling sorry for myself.”

“I grew up on a farm. I know that there are millions and millions and millions of Canadians who work much harder than any of the dignitaries standing behind this podium, and who do it for less money and less acclaim,” she said.

“Those are the Canadians I think about every single day, and I’m really just focused on serving those Canadians to the best of my ability,” she added.

With regards to Carney, Freeland said she has known him for a “very long time” and that both of them speak often since he is her son’s godfather. She said she has often discussed the possibility of him joining the Liberal team, although it’s unclear in what capacity.

“I think Mark is a great Canadian. I am really glad that he has come out as a Liberal, and I’m grateful for any support he can offer our party, our government and our country,” she said.

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Carney has declined requests for comment from the National Post on his possible political future.

But all the talk about Freeland’s ability to sell her government’s economic plan has only led her to double down on her speaking points to explain how it is working.

During her remarks, she pointed to the most recent inflation figures showing that it fell to 2.7 per cent in June, down from 2.9 per cent the previous month, and expressed some hope that those efforts would be reflected in the central bank’s decision next week.

“Our government is doing everything we can to support the Bank of Canada and to make it possible for the Bank of Canada to continue lowering interest rates,” she said.

National Post
calevesque@postmedia.com

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