The Commissioner of Canada Elections has officially concluded that former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland violated the Canada Elections Act during the June 2024 byelection in Toronto–St. Paul’s.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The investigation, finalized in early 2026, determined that Freeland used government-funded events to promote a partisan candidate, resulting in an “illegal contribution” of public resources.
1. The Conflict: Government vs. Campaigning
The violation occurred during two back-to-back press conferences on June 23 and 24, 2024.
- Official Capacity: Freeland was at the events in her role as Finance Minister to announce federal budget measures.
- The Infraction: When asked about the upcoming byelection, she spoke in support of Liberal candidate Leslie Church.
- The Ruling: Under federal law, government resources (venues, staff, and tech) cannot be used for partisan gain. By campaigning at an official event, the costs of those events were legally reclassified as an unauthorized campaign contribution.
2. Financial and Legal Consequences
- Repayment: The Liberal Party association was required to pay $910.58 to the Receiver General of Canada to cover the “market value” of the government resources used.
- The Undertaking: Freeland signed a formal agreement (an undertaking) acknowledging the error and promising future compliance.
- No Fines: Because the violation was deemed an honest mistake regarding the rules of responding to media questions, no further fines were levied.
3. Current Standing
This finding serves as a closing chapter to Freeland’s domestic political career. Following her resignation in January 2026, she has moved into an international advisory role for the Ukrainian government.
Key Takeaway: The ruling reinforces a strict boundary in Canadian law: even when a minister is asked a direct question by the media, they must refrain from using taxpayer-funded platforms to support a political candidate.
