The day he took office for his “sunny” first term, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared in front of Ottawa’s Rideau Hall to present the first gender-balanced cabinet in Canadian history. He gave his succinct “because it’s 2015” explanation — a remark that became integral to his then-favourable political brand.
Standing in the front row, just behind his right shoulder, was freshly minted Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland.
After years as one of Trudeau’s most valuable, versatile political allies, Freeland stunned Ottawa on Monday by abruptly resigning from cabinet. Her thorough resignation letter made no indication her decision was rooted in gender dynamics, but gender became part of the conversation about her departure and Trudeau’s future anyway.
A former Liberal minister and political scientists say they weren’t surprised — largely because the issues of gender and feminism have been part of the Trudeau Liberals’ brand from the very beginning.
‘Some feminist’
Freeland said she felt she had to quitbecause the prime …