Carney says Freeland’s resignation from Parliament aligns with Ukraine economic advisory role

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published January 6, 2026

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the upcoming resignation of Ontario Liberal MP Chrystia Freeland from the House of Commons is consistent with her appointment as an unpaid economic development adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Carney made the remarks during a news conference in Paris, where he is holding meetings with other allies of Ukraine. He said that combining membership in Canada’s Parliament with a senior international advisory role is no longer appropriate at this stage.

The prime minister added that he did not ask Freeland to remain a member of Parliament when questioned about that possibility, noting that the Liberal government is currently operating with a minority in the House of Commons, making such decisions particularly sensitive.

Earlier this week, Freeland announced her immediate resignation as Carney’s special representative on the reconstruction of Ukraine, along with her intention to step down from Parliament in the coming period.

Freeland has previously confirmed that she will not seek re-election in the next federal vote. It has also been announced that she will assume the role of chief executive officer of the Rhodes Trust, a global educational charity based in Oxford, England, starting on July 1.

The development comes amid broader international coordination in support of Ukraine, as allies continue efforts to provide political and economic backing while laying the groundwork for long-term reconstruction and stability.