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Resignation of number 2 of the Canadian government amid Trump’s customs threats
Donald Trump’s threats to increase customs taxes continue to shake Canada: the Deputy Prime Minister surprised Monday morning by resigning due to differences with Justin Trudeau on how to manage the looming economic war with its powerful ally. “We found ourselves at odds over the best path forward for Canada,” at a time when the country faces “a great challenge,” wrote Chrystia Freeland, who was also finance minister, in her resignation letter addressed to the Prime Minister and broadcast on % of its exports. Speaking of a possible “tariff war”, she believes that “we must avoid costly political tricks that we cannot afford”, in a probable allusion to the tax boosts recently granted to individuals by the Trudeau government.Long among Justin Trudeau’s close guard and even once considered to succeed him, this 56-year-old anglophone from Toronto has held several ministerial positions since the Liberal came to power in 2015. From 2015 to 2017, this polyglot and former journalist served as Minister of International Trade and oversaw the successful negotiation of Ceta, the free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union. She then served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2019, before becoming Deputy Prime Minister and the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Finance. At the end of the day, her replacement Dominic LeBlanc took office, when the country announced a deficit of 22 billion Canadian dollars (15 billion euros) higher than expected, to settle at 62 billion, because of “unexpected expenses”.Dominic LeBlanc will be responsible in particular for negotiations with the Trump administration and promised to focus on this “challenge” that awaits him. The country also announced Monday 1.3 billion Canadian dollars in investments to “protect the border”. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who made no comments during the day, was content during an evening in front of donors to his party in Ottawa to speak of “not an easy day”. Some media, citing anonymous sources from his entourage, indicated that he was also considering resigning but his office rejected these allegations calling them from AFP of “absolutely inaccurate”. – “Loss of control” -At the end of November, Justin Trudeau made a surprise return trip to Florida to meet Donald Trump and discuss the customs issue. Since then, he has held numerous meetings, notably with the Prime Ministers of the provinces, panicked by American threats. Doug Ford, at the head of Ontario, declared last week that the province could in response cut off all its electricity exports. towards the United States. But nothing seems to indicate so far that Donald Trump could change his position. In this tense context, the resignation of the one who occupied the most important position after that of Justin Trudeau is a new thorn in the side of the head of government, who on Monday saw another minister – that of Housing, Sean Fraser – leave the ship for “family reasons”. “It can’t go on any longer”, reacted Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the conservatives, during a press conference. “Justin Trudeau has lost control, but he clings to power.” The Prime Minister, who announced his intention to run again in the coming months, is already very weakened by several recent political setbacks. “It’s a total disaster,” says Lori Turnbull, professor at Dalhousie University. “This puts the government in a state of shock and panic,” she told AFP. “I think it is much more difficult for Mr. Trudeau to remain Prime Minister, because he is losing a certain legitimacy.”The next legislative elections must take place no later than October 20, 2025, but many analysts believe that the government is unlikely to hold until then, which would trigger early elections. tib-amp/eml
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