Minister of Finance (Canada) in the context of "John Crosbie"

Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien (Canadian French: [ʒɑ̃ kʁetsjẽɪ̯̃]; born January 11, 1934) is a Canadian lawyer and retired politician who served as the 20th prime minister of Canada from 1993 to 2003. He served as leader of the Liberal Party from 1990 to 2003 and as leader of the Official Opposition from 1990 to 1993.

Born and raised in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, Chrétien studied law at the Université Laval. A Liberal, he was first elected to the House of Commons in 1963 federal election. Chrétien served in various cabinet posts in the governments of Lester B. Pearson and Pierre Trudeau, most notably as minister of Indian affairs and northern development, president of the Treasury Board, minister of finance, and minister of justice. In the latter role, Chrétien played a key role in the patriation of the Constitution of Canada and the establishment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Chrétien ran for the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1984, placing second to John Turner. He then served as deputy prime minister in Turner's short-lived government, which was defeated in the 1984 federal election. In 1986, Chrétien briefly left politics amid tensions with Turner and began working in the private sector. After the Liberals were defeated again in 1988, he returned to politics and won the leadership of the party in 1990, thereby becoming leader of the Official Opposition. Chrétien led the Liberal Party to a majority government in the 1993 federal election. The party won two additional majorities in 1997 and 2000.

The Department of Finance Canada (French: Ministère des Finances Canada) is a central agency of the Government of Canada. The department assists the minister of finance in developing the government's fiscal framework and advises the government on economic and financial issues. A principal role of the department is assisting the government in the development of its annual budget.

The department is responsible to Parliament through the minister of finance (François-Philippe Champagne since March 2025). The day-to-day operations of the department are directed by the deputy minister of finance (a public servant). Chris Forbes was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance on September 11, 2023.

A political crisis emerged in Canada after Chrystia Freeland, the then-minister of finance and deputy prime minister, resigned from Cabinet on 16 December 2024. The events "sent shockwaves" through Canadian politics, leading to calls for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign. On 6 January 2025, amid a mounting caucus revolt, Trudeau announced his resignation as leader of the Liberal Party and as the prime minister, pending the selection of his successor.

Freeland had been one of the most powerful and prominent figures in the Trudeau ministry and was considered among the prime minister's most loyal allies. Leading up to her resignation, their relationship had become increasingly strained over policy disagreements. On 13 December, Trudeau told Freeland that he no longer wished to see her continue as Finance minister, but asked her to stay in Cabinet. Freeland mulled the offer over the subsequent days, but ultimately opted to resign. She published the resignation letter, which was heavily critical of Trudeau.