Freeland to step down as MP after appointment as adviser to Zelensky

Chrystia Freeland said she will resign as a member of Parliament in the coming weeks after accepting an unpaid role as an economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and she has left her post as special representative for reconstruction of Ukraine.

Chrystia Freeland announced she will resign as a member of Parliament in the coming weeks after being appointed as an economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. She also said she is stepping down from her role as Prime Minister Mark Carney's special representative for reconstruction of Ukraine. The appointment to advise President Zelensky was announced earlier in the day and Freeland described the role as unpaid in a social media post. Freeland was first elected in Toronto Centre in a 2013 byelection and has represented University—Rosedale since 2015. Key details: - Freeland accepted an unpaid economic adviser role to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, announced earlier in the day. - She is leaving her post as special representative for reconstruction of Ukraine appointed by Prime Minister Mark Carney. - Freeland said she will resign as a member of Parliament in the coming weeks. - Critics argued the appointment created a conflict of interest; Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said on social media that one cannot be a Canadian MP and an adviser to a foreign government. - Freeland was first elected in a 2013 Toronto Centre byelection and has represented University—Rosedale since 2015. Summary: Freeland's appointment to advise President Zelensky prompted her to step back from her responsibilities for Ukraine reconstruction and to announce her planned resignation from Parliament. She has described the adviser role as unpaid. She has said she will resign her parliamentary seat in the coming weeks; further details about timing and transition are undetermined at this time.