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In a public declaration, Freeland rejected the usual political clich茅s of departing cabinet ministers.

“I am not leaving to spend more time with my family or because the burden of elected office is too heavy to bear,” she wrote on X of her impending departure.

Instead, she described politics as a “privilege not a sacrifice” for her and her family, but after聽12 years in federal politics she is ready to move on.

Freeland said she makes the move with “tremendous gratitude and a “little sadness.”聽

Three Liberal sources,聽who spoke on condition they not be named,聽told the Star her decision was not one sought by Carney, who has few strong women in his trusted inner governing circle. Rather, they said, it was a personal decision that Freeland first approached Carney about around a month ago, seeking the right timing.聽

She will not immediately step down as MP for University-Rosedale until her riding association is ready, said sources.

“A great strength of democracy is that no one holds political office in perpetuity. After 12 fulfilling years in public life, I know that now is the right time for me to make way for others and to seek fresh challenges for myself.”

Author Catherine Tsalikis who wrote a biography of Freeland told CBC that she has not been a part of Carney’s inner circle and characterized her decision as “perhaps a graceful way to take her leave.”

Freeland’s exit, first reported by the Globe and Mail 鈥� her former journalistic home 鈥� was not entirely unexpected, unlike her fiery departure from Justin Trudeau’s cabinet last December that set in motion the resignation of the former prime minister.

Rumours have circulated in Ottawa she would be taking up a diplomatic post to open a safe seat for Carney to fill. However, sources disputed that characterization. In Ottawa, speculation continues that other former Trudeau-era ministers Bill Blair and Jonathon Wilkinson will take up diplomatic postings in London and the European Union, respectively.

In a statement posted on X in response to Freeland’s, Carney 鈥� who is godfather to Freeland’s son 鈥� commended Freeland for her “extraordinary service.” He confirmed what two sources had told the Star 鈥� that she will not take up a formal diplomatic appointment but he has asked her to “serve as Canada’s new special representative for the reconstruction of Ukraine.”

“Chrystia’s versatility, raw intelligence, and principled leadership have served Canadians with distinction through extraordinary challenges and changes,” Carney wrote.聽

“Her leadership has helped to secure historic trade negotiations, to guide the response to a global pandemic, to complete early learning and child care agreements across Canada, and most recently to remove all federal barriers to internal trade.”

Freeland will work directly with Carney in her new political role but she will not receive a separate salary increase as special envoy, and will have no budget or staff in the new capacity.

Liberal sources said the former journalist, intends to do more writing, and is expected to take up teaching, as well as stay engaged in discussions on international security policy, multilateralism and democracy.聽

鈥淪he鈥檒l do a great job over in Ukraine and I support her all the way,鈥� said Premier Doug Ford, who called Freeland a “friend” with whom he talks regularly after they bonded during the COVID-19 pandemic as the Ontario and federal governments worked closely together.

Ford is also close to LeBlanc who takes on Freeland’s internal trade responsibility. LeBlanc effectively was already the minister on that file. He is the head of privy council, Canada-U.S. relations, intergovernmental affairs and “one Canadian economy.”

MacKinnon retains, for now, responsibility for leading the Liberals’ effort in a minority Parliament to win enough votes to pass legislation. The most contentious bill expected this fall is a long overdue federal budget聽鈥� which the government announced would be delivered Nov. 4.

First elected in 2013, Freeland was an immediate star in Trudeau’s government when the Liberals returned to power in 2015 with a majority mandate. In the years since, she served as international trade minister and at foreign affairs, where she was instrumental in the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.聽

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government cranked up spending to provide tens of billions of dollars in income supports to businesses and people who lost work, Freeland was appointed finance minister 鈥� the first woman in Canadian history to fill the role.聽

Freeland ran a losing campaign for the Liberal leadership earlier this year, in a resounding defeat to Carney. The race came just weeks after her decision to resign from Trudeau’s cabinet, the same day she was set to present a fall fiscal update. The move helped push Trudeau out as prime minister, and set the stage for Carney’s rise to power.

With a file from Rob Ferguson, Queen’s Park bureau