Watchdog Finds Former Minister Freeland Violated 2024 Byelection Rules

The Commissioner of Canada Elections has found that former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland violated election rules during the 2024 byelection. This determination was made on Friday, according to a report from Commissioner Caroline Simard’s office.

Details of the Violation

The incident took place in Toronto-St. Paul’s, where Freeland, serving as Minister of Finance at the time, made comments regarding the upcoming byelection. After a government announcement, she responded to reporters about the Liberal candidate, Leslie Church, by offering what were deemed “supportive remarks.”

• Freeland’s comments could be seen as a contribution to Church’s campaign.
• The value of related costs exceeded $900.
• The Liberal Party’s electoral district association agreed to reimburse this amount to the government.

Potential Consequences

The report clarified that Freeland was unaware her comments could lead to the costs of a government event being classified as unlawful contributions. Ministers are generally expected to refrain from endorsing political candidates during official duties.

Political Context

Freeland’s actions come amidst her recent appointment as an economic adviser to Ukraine, as announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This new role raises questions about her responsibilities as a sitting member of Parliament.

In the 2024 byelection, Church ultimately lost, despite having secured the riding in the previous year’s election. Freeland resigned from her position as an MP last month.

Historical Precedents

This is not the first instance of election rule violations among Canadian politicians. In 2015, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre faced similar scrutiny for wearing a party shirt during a government announcement.