section_path: Abstract
section_name: Abstract
paragraph_text: A political crisis emerged in Canada after Chrystia Freeland, the then- minister of finance and deputy prime minister, resigned from Cabinet on 16 December 2024. The events "sent shockwaves" through Canadian politics, leading to calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign. On 6 January 2025, amid a mounting caucus revolt, Trudeau announced his resignation as leader of the Liberal Party and as the prime minister, pending the selection of his successor.
  
  Freeland had been one of the most powerful and prominent figures in the Trudeau ministry and was considered among the prime minister's most loyal allies. Leading up to her resignation, their relationship had become increasingly strained over policy disagreements. On 13 December, Trudeau told Freeland that he no longer wished to see her continue as Finance minister, but asked her to stay in Cabinet. Freeland mulled the offer over the subsequent days, but ultimately opted to resign. She published the resignation letter, which was heavily critical of Trudeau.
  
  Freeland's resignation precipitated an escalating loss of political support for Trudeau. Leaders of the opposition parties immediately demanded his resignation. A growing number of Liberal MPs would do the same in the coming days. The New Democratic Party (NDP), which had been in a confidence and supply agreement with the Liberals between March 2022 and September 2024, and whose support had been integral in defeating motions of no confidence against the government even after their withdrawal from the agreement, announced that they would vote to bring down the government when Parliament returned from its winter break.
  
  When Trudeau eventually resigned, he concurrently announced the prorogation of Parliament until March. This decision would be subject to a legal challenge, but was upheld. The subsequent leadership election was won by Mark Carney, who was sworn in as Prime Minister on 14 March and announced the dissolution of Parliament nine days later. He lead the Liberals to victory in the ensuing election, overturning a large deficit in opinion polling.