Canadian government in serious crisis: Trudeau chose "expensive political tricks"

In a sharply intoned explanation of her resignation, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland cited "disagreements" with her long-time ally regarding Canada's response to Donald Trump's tariff threats, the BBC reports.

In explaining her resignation, Minister Freeland accused Trudeau of choosing "expensive political tricks" instead of dealing with the threat posed by Trump's "aggressive economic nationalism."

Freeland said she made the decision to resign after Trudeau told her last week he no longer wanted her to be finance minister.

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Donald Trump has promised to impose a 25 percent tax on imports of Canadian products unless the border between the two countries is further secured.

Regarding Freeland's public statements, Trump said that her "behavior was completely toxic" and "does nothing to reach an agreement that would be good for the very dissatisfied citizens of Canada."

Although a new Canadian finance minister was named by the end of the day, Trudeau faced demands from members of his Liberal Party to resign, according to the BBC.