Chrystia Freeland Resigns, Threatening Trudeau’s Hold on Power

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s hold on power was threatened on Monday after the deputy prime minister who led Canada’s response to the first Trump administration resigned abruptly, in a stinging rebuke to the country’s leader.

The high-profile departure of the minister, Chrystia Freeland, comes at a treacherous moment for Canada. President-elect Donald J. Trump has warned that he will impose 25 percent tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico unless the two countries do more to curb the flow of undocumented migrants and drugs into the United States.

Ms. Freeland, who has helped steer the Trudeau government through many challenges, had been playing a prominent role in forming Canada’s response to the incoming Trump administration, leading a team of government officials preparing for the transition.

In her letter of resignation, Ms. Freeland accused Mr. Trudeau, who is deeply unpopular at home, of engaging in “costly political gimmicks” instead of focusing on countering the grave threat of tariffs.

Canadians, she said, “know when we are working for them, and they equally know when we are focused on ourselves.”

She said the breakdown with Mr. Trudeau came over his push for measures, including a sales tax holiday and sending modest checks to taxpayers, that would add to the government’s deficit.