Liberal Member of Parliament Chrystia Freeland is set to relocate to Oxford, England, in the coming summer to assume a new role overseeing the Rhodes Trust, a renowned educational charity. The Trust, known for its prestigious Rhodes Scholarship program enabling students globally to pursue studies at the University of Oxford, officially confirmed the appointment of Freeland as the CEO of the Rhodes Trust and warden of Rhodes House, effective July 1.
While Freeland has not officially announced her resignation from Parliament, she has indicated that she does not plan to seek re-election in the upcoming election. Her office did not respond to inquiries regarding her transition. The local Liberal riding association in Toronto, University-Rosedale, also lacked details regarding her departure or potential candidate nomination for a by-election.
Freeland, a former finance minister and deputy prime minister, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work with her alma mater in a statement released by the Rhodes Trust. Having previously received a Rhodes Scholarship and earned a degree in Slavonic studies at the University of Oxford in the early 1990s, Freeland emphasized the transformative impact of the scholarship on her career and international perspective.
Widely recognized for her advocacy on behalf of Ukraine and her efforts to support the country in its conflict with Russia, Freeland held key positions in the Canadian government, including Minister of Transport and Internal Trade in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet. She stepped down from her cabinet roles last September to focus on matters related to Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Freeland’s career spans journalism in Kyiv and Moscow, where she worked for prominent publications like the Financial Times and the Economist. She is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian and has authored books on economic disparity and oligarchy in post-Soviet nations. Elected as a Member of Parliament in 2013, Freeland played a pivotal role in Canadian politics, particularly in trade negotiations with the European Union and the United States during the Trump administration.
Her tenure as Canada’s first female finance minister in 2020 coincided with significant economic challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, during which she oversaw historic emergency spending measures. Freeland’s decision to resign from the cabinet and criticize Prime Minister Trudeau’s fiscal policies in December 2024 marked a turning point in Canadian politics, eventually leading to Trudeau’s resignation in January 2025.
Freeland is married to New York Times journalist Graham Bowley and is a mother of two daughters and a son. Her upcoming role at the Rhodes Trust reflects her ongoing commitment to education and international relations.
