Chrystia Freeland named new Canada finance minister

Canada’s deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland has been named finance minister following a Cabinet shuffle.

Her appointment comes after Bill Morneau suddenly quit the job amid pressure from opposition parties.

One of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s most trusted ministers, Ms Freeland, 52, will become the first woman to hold the position in Canada.

In addition to the shuffle, Mr Trudeau is suspending Parliament until 23 September.

It will then reconvene for a Speech from the Throne, where Mr Trudeau’s government will formally unveil its legislative agenda for the coming parliamentary session. The speech will give his government the opportunity to present “our roadmap out of the pandemic”, he said in Ottawa.

Canada is going through its worst economic crisis since the Second World War due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms Freeland has previously held several high-level cabinet positions, including the international trade portfolio.

As foreign minister she helped renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement – or Nafta – with the US and Mexico.