Carney says Freeland’s role in Ukraine is ‘consistent’ with plan to resign as MP – National

Prime Minister Marc Carney declared the Liberal MP from Ontario That of Chrystia Freeland her upcoming resignation from the House of Commons is “consistent” with her taking on the role of unpaid economic development advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

But conservatives say Freeland should have already resigned and that Carney should have asked her to do so when she assumed her new role.

On Monday, Freeland announced her immediate resignation as Carney’s special representative for reconstruction. Ukraine and possible resignation as an MP.

“My judgment was that accepting this role would be consistent with resigning as an MP, and I was pleased that she did that,” Carney said at a news conference Tuesday at the Canadian Embassy in Paris.

Carney, who leads a minority government, said he did not ask Freeland to remain an MP. He was in Paris to meet with Ukrainian allies, including the United States, to discuss security guarantees for the war-torn nation.

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Volodymyr Zelenskyy appoints Chrystia Freeland as economic advisor

Conservative MP Michael Barrett said Tuesday that Freeland could access sensitive information while advising a foreign government at the highest levels.

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“Beyond the fact that serving Canadians is not a part-time job, the position she accepted with a foreign government, paid or unpaid, raises the question of whose interests will take priority,” he wrote on social media.

“It is essential that the Prime Minister protects Canada’s interests and maintains the highest levels of conduct and integrity. And he should not wait for someone to tell him that.”

Freeland has said she will not run in the next election. The outgoing MP will become CEO of the Rhodes Trust, a global education charity based in Oxford, England, from July 1.

Opposition MPs, including Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong and interim NDP leader Don Davies, said Freeland should have resigned as an MP before accepting a position with the leader of another country.

A by-election will be called in Freeland University—Rosedale after she officially vacates her seat.

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