I’ve been meaning to acknowledge a Canadian Woman of the Year on What She Said for some time now, but, like many of you, I’m juggling a lot and honestly, time just got away from me. Who would even notice, I rationalized, since I’ve never done this before. I figured I’d just wait until next year. But then, Chrystia Freeland went and did something truly extraordinary yesterday — a move that no one saw coming, but the entire country certainly felt. To not recognize this and give her the kudos she rightfully deserves feels wrong to me, and hey, the timing was right with 2024 still in play. So from a panel of one, and involving absolutely no consultation with anyone else, I’m bestowing upon Chrystia Freeland What She Said’s first Canadian Woman of the Year award. Let’s dive in.
Canadian Woman of the Year; Chrystia Freeland.
By submitting her resignation as Finance Minister in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on December 16th, just hours before she was set to present Canada’s economic update, Freeland showed a level of integrity that’s far too rare in politics. For someone with such close proximity to power — as Deputy Prime Minister, you don’t get much closer to the top — to speak truth to it takes real guts, and that’s something worth celebrating. As much as we’d all love to see more politicians with that kind of integrity, let’s be honest: it’s as rare as a $2 bill.
Political leadership has long been criticized for its lack of genuine accountability, which makes Freeland’s willingness to publicly take a stand particularly brave. She didn’t just toe the line for the sake of it; she recognized the moment for what it was — a time to act with the country’s best interests at heart, even if it meant sacrificing her role in the Cabinet.
And yes, there are legitimate criticisms to be leveled towards her as well. I’ll admit I cringed with most of the country when she suggested that perhaps cancelling our Disney+ memberships would help soften the economic hardships we were feeling. Although admittedly, I have cancelled it, along with Prime and Apple, but I digress. She is flawed, like all humans, but overall Freeland gets it. Really, really gets it. She didn’t just have an epiphany this week about the dangers of unchecked greed and authoritarianism. She has been consistent and steady since her university days when she was labelled (probably proudly if you ask her) by the Soviets as a “trouble-maker”.
And when it comes to speaking out about unchecked greed, she literally wrote a book about it, Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super-Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else. Freeland understands more than most that we are living in a moment where 99% of us are facing the consequences of a system rigged for the ultra-wealthy. The rise of billionaires controlling not just our economy but our politics too, is what is fueling so much of the instability and polarization we see today. Freeland is no billionaire bootlicker, which is also a rarity as it turns out in politics. She has stepped out of line to stand with the people she feels obligated to protect. And right now, we need more people like her in positions of power: people who aren’t afraid to call out the system for what it is and who want to protect all Canadians, not just the ones on the left or right.
This moment is also particularly significant in the face of some of the more recent government decisions. While the GST holiday and rebate cheques might have been intended to provide immediate relief, the results were far from the kind of systemic change we truly need. Few didn’t see it for what it was — a play to buy votes. It’s the same schtick Doug Ford is playing in Ontario, and it’s no better a look for the federal Liberals. It stinks, we know it, and Freeland knows it.
For small businesses, the GST holiday has been nothing short of a logistical nightmare, and the $250 rebate cheques, would be ultimately insufficient in solving the broader issues at play here. Freeland’s resignation, in many ways, was a response to the same issues she’s been confronting — the need for clear-headed, long-term planning over short-term political wins that aim to distract. Her letter reveals a deeper understanding of what Canada truly needs: smart, sustainable fiscal policies that make sure we’re building a strong foundation in the face of what’s coming, rather than chasing fleeting popularity.
What Freeland did yesterday is an act of bold leadership done in a way that felt unapologetically true to herself, flaws and all. So often, women in leadership are told to soften themselves to fit a more “likeable” mold, but Freeland’s authenticity is what makes her an icon. In the face of pressure to conform, she’s chosen to act in a way that reflects not only her conviction but also a long-term vision for this country. While she may no longer be Finance Minister, her legacy as a leader who put principle above politics will remain. And that is a legacy we should all respect, no matter where we fall on the political spectrum.
At a time when global institutions are being eroded by the very forces that Freeland has written about, we need someone with her insights and conviction. She knows that meaningful change can’t come from simply tweaking the same old rules that benefit the rich at the expense of the rest of us.
So, congratulations Chrystia Freeland on being What She Said‘s first Canadian Woman of the Year. I’ve got some maple syrup and a $10 gift card for a local coffee shop ready for you when you have time. What? I’m not even watching Disney. In this economy, it’s all I can afford. But for what it’s worth, you’ve also got my eternal respect. Boss ass move, lady. Boss ass move.