Justin Trudeau names Chrystia Freeland as deputy prime minister and finance minister

Thestar.com
Sept. 29, 2021
Raisa Patel

More than one week after his election victory on Sept. 20, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held his first media availability Tuesday afternoon, announcing that Chrystia Freeland will continue to serve as deputy prime minister and minister of finance.

“I am very pleased to be able to continue to rely on Chrystia as we do the big things that Canadians have tasked their politicians and governments to do in the coming years,” said Trudeau, who was joined by Freeland outside a vaccination clinic in an Ottawa suburb.

The prime minister said he looked forward to tackling the Liberal government’s “ambitious agenda” with Freeland -- and the other members of his new cabinet, who Trudeau said will be sworn in during the month of October. He added that Parliament will resume “before the end of fall”, though precise dates have yet to be determined.

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis remains the government’s top priority, Trudeau said, acknowledging in particular the trajectory of the pandemic’s fourth wave in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The visit marked Trudeau’s second appearance before cameras since last week’s election -- he first appeared Friday evening to announce the return of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor after they spent nearly three years detained in China.