Freeland quit just hours before she was due to present an autumn economic update to parliament, a document widely expected to show the Liberal government had run up a much larger 2023/24 budget deficit than planned.
"For the last number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds over the best path forward for Canada," Freeland said in a letter to Trudeau posted on X.
Freeland, seen as one of Trudeau's closest allies in cabinet, also served as deputy prime minister.
See my letter to the Prime Minister below // Veuillez trouver ma lettre au Premier ministre ci-dessous — Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) pic.twitter.com/NMMMcXUh7ADecember 16, 2024
Domestic media reports said Freeland and Trudeau had clashed over a government proposal for temporary tax breaks and other spending measures.
"On Friday, you told me you no longer want me to serve as your Finance Minister and offered me another position in the Cabinet," Freeland said in a letter addressed to Trudeau.
"Upon reflection, I have concluded that the only honest and viable path is for me to resign from the Cabinet."
There was no immediate reaction from Trudeau's office.
One potential replacement could be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who already serves as an economic advisor to Trudeau.
Carney though is not a legislator and tradition dictates he would need to run for a seat in the House of Commons elected chamber.
