Today's letters: Chrystia Freeland no hero; Trudeau no feminist

Friday, Dec. 27: Not everyone admires Chrystia Freeland for her recent actions. You can write to us too, at [email protected]

Published Dec 27, 2024  •  Last updated 0 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Then-Liberal leader (and not yet prime minister) Justin Trudeau holds a press conference on Parliament Hill on Sept. 17, 2013., with then-new Liberal candidate for Toronto Centre Chrystia Freeland. Photo by Sean Kilpatrick /The Canadian Press

Chrystia Freeland is no hero

Re: Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigns from cabinet, Dec. 16.

I am no fan of Chrystia Freeland and would shed no tears for her unceremonious departure. Were it not for the Zoom call from the prime minister, she would have proudly presented the $61-billion fiscal deficit update she cheekily denounced in her resignation letter.

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So, spare me the “keeping the fiscal powder dry” nonsense. It’s a travesty that mainstream media now touts her as the parsimonious minister who was unfairly treated rather than a vindictive prima donna.

Okemona Oke, Orléans

Look at who’s in the driver’s seat now?

I had a dream last night that Chrystia Freeland, Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott (the new Liberal party) were being driven in the official prime minister’s limousine, with Justin Trudeau running behind trying to remove a bumper sticker that said: “we will be transparent.”

Nicole Beggs, Ottawa

Sorry, but Trudeau is not a feminist

Justin Trudeau liked to characterize himself as a “feminist.” Really? Jody Wilson-Raybould, Jane  Philpott, Chrystia Freeland: seems more like political femicide to me.

Cheryl Simmons, Hawkesbury

Canadians aren’t informed when voting

I was already a big fan of fellow Canadian-Ukrainian, informed, experienced and dynamic Chrystia Freeland. She is wise, cunning and has been a success as a private journalist and Canadian parliamentarian. She has had great success internationally as well.

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Compare that to Pierre Poilievre, who has virtually no private-sector experience and negligible experience in international relations.

It would be an unfair fight for her as Liberal leader, if only the general Canadian electoral population were informed and up to-date. But as I found out cold-calling for the federal Liberal party in 2013, it just isn’t so. Few Canadians vote with any informed reason in mind. It’s can’t have changed much.

Thomas Brawn, Orléans

Freeland, yes; quick election, no

There is no doubt in the minds of many Canadians that Chrystia Freeland devoted her brilliant mind, talent, time and considerable energy to serving the Canadian public with humility and common sense. We owe her such a massive tribute for dealing with the political tempest that followed Doanld Trump everywhere during his first administration. We thank her for staying in politics.

However, I do not believe that calling an election as the new and improved Trump administration takes hold of America is a good idea. A recipe for disaster would be having a new and inexperienced prime minister (no matter how talented or strategic) and a new cabinet learning the ropes while having to deal with Trump’s army of hot-headed appointees.

With Trump in power we need to play it cool and stay calm. Turning the political ship around full steam ahead at this juncture is throwing caution to the wind and Canada’s future overboard.

SuzAnne Doré, Ottawa

Walkin’ in a winter wonderland, Prime Minister?

Dear Prime Minister, it has been snowing in Ottawa. Perhaps it’s time to go take a walk in that snow.

S. Y. Turenne, Russell

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