Liberal Member of Parliament Chrystia Freeland will be relocating to Oxford, England, next summer to assume a new role overseeing the Rhodes Trust, a renowned educational charity, as confirmed by the organization on Thursday. The Rhodes Trust is well-known for its prestigious Rhodes Scholarship program, which provides opportunities for students worldwide to study at the University of Oxford. The announcement was made on Wednesday evening, stating that Freeland has been appointed as the CEO of the Rhodes Trust and will serve as the warden of Rhodes House, a significant building on the university campus, starting on July 1.
A spokesperson for the Rhodes Trust, Babette Littlemore, verified that Freeland will be moving to Oxford for her new position. While Freeland has not officially declared her resignation from her parliamentary position, she has indicated that she does not intend to run in the upcoming election. There has been no response from Freeland’s office to inquiries made on Thursday.
The local Liberal riding association for University-Rosedale in Toronto, where Freeland represents, has not provided any details regarding her potential departure or the arrangements for a candidate nomination race for a byelection. Additional information was not available from the Prime Minister’s Office or the House of Commons Speaker’s office.
In a press release issued by the Rhodes Trust to announce her appointment, Freeland expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work with her alma mater. She emphasized the transformative impact of the Rhodes Scholarship, citing her own experience as a beneficiary of the program during her studies in Slavonic studies at the University of Oxford in the early 1990s.
Freeland, a former finance minister and deputy prime minister, had vied for the leadership of the Liberal Party earlier this year, ultimately losing to Mark Carney, who assumed the role of prime minister in March. During her tenure in Carney’s cabinet, she held dual roles as the internal trade minister and transport minister, leading efforts to reduce internal trade barriers in Canada.
Having resigned from her cabinet positions in September, Freeland took on a special role representing the Carney government in matters related to the reconstruction of Ukraine. She is recognized for her advocacy for Ukraine and her leadership in international efforts to support the rebuilding of the country.
Throughout her career, Freeland has worked as a journalist in Kyiv and Moscow for prominent publications, including the Financial Times, the Economist, and the Washington Post. She is fluent in Ukrainian and Russian, and has authored books on income inequality and the emergence of oligarchs in post-Soviet nations.
Elected as a Member of Parliament in 2013, Freeland has been an influential figure in Canadian politics, notably contributing to key trade negotiations and fiscal policies. Her significant roles in the government included serving as federal finance minister, where she played a pivotal role in managing emergency spending during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Freeland’s decision to step down from cabinet and her subsequent move to the Rhodes Trust marks a new chapter in her career, reflecting her commitment to education and international relations. Her contributions to Canadian politics and her dedication to global issues have made her a respected figure both domestically and internationally.