Trudeau says he has 'full confidence' in Freeland following reports of ...

Catharine Tunney · CBC News

· Posted: Jul 11, 2024 1:57 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered a firm defence of Chrystia Freeland Thursday following reports of an increasingly tense relationship between his office and the finance minister.

"She has been a close friend, an ally and a partner in doing really big things for Canada, and will continue to be," Trudeau said during his closing news conference from the annual NATO summit in Washington.

"I have full confidence in her abilities and the work we're going to be doing together."

Trudeau's comments came after the Globe and Mail reported that tensions between Freeland and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) — including Trudeau's chief of staff Katie Telford — are increasing due to the Liberals' recent economic messaging and low approval ratings.

WATCH | Trudeau is asked if he wants to replace Freeland as finance minister

The prime minister was also asked Thursday about rumours of internal discussions about recruiting former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney as finance minister.

"I have been talking with Mark Carney for years now about getting him to join federal politics. I think he'd be an outstanding addition at a time when Canadians need good people to step up in politics," he said. 

Despite what Trudeau is saying publicly, CBC News has also learned of tensions behind the scenes.

A senior government source told CBC News that Freeland was not resonating with voters in the way the PMO had hoped. The source added that such tensions are to be expected when the government is facing headwinds.

The government's recent woes have prompted intense discussions among Liberals. The Liberals' unexpected byelection loss in Toronto last month prompted one backbench Liberal MP to publicly call on Trudeau to resign as leader. Other members of caucus have also expressed frustrations in private.

Polling has consistently shown the Liberals trailing Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives.

A second senior government source acknowledged the tensions, saying "everyone will be in support of her (Freeland) until they're not."

"That is the way these things roll," the source said.

CBC News is not identifying the sources, as they are not authorized to discuss these matters publicly.

A spokesperson for the PMO insisted there are no tensions with Freeland.

"These assertions are not accurate. The prime minister and his office have full confidence in Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland," wrote Ann-Clara Vaillancourt. 

"The Deputy Prime Minister has been working tirelessly and effectively to serve Canadians since she was first appointed to cabinet in 2015."

A Liberal MP, who spoke on the condition they not be named, told CBC News they believe the general mood in caucus indicates a desire for change, including to the way the government communicates on issues like affordability. They added the communication problems are not limited to Freeland.

The MP also told CBC they haven't heard from caucus members calling for Freeland to be moved out of finance.

Despite requests from some Liberal MPs to meet over the summer to address the party's faltering fortunes, the party's caucus chair Brenda Shanahan has said a meeting won't be possible until September.