I’ll let Charlie Angus, MP for Timmins-James Bay, say it: “What the fuck? How does a prime minister, on the eve of a statement that we’ve been waiting for for months, deep-six his finance minister and think that things are going to be normal?”

Good question, Charlie. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is set to deliver the fall economic statement in two days and the prime minister pulls the rug out from under her, informing her that she’s out as finance minister. She had no honourable alternative but to resign from cabinet. Much of the substance of the Liberal government just vanished.

What could Justin have been thinking? This is one of those very rare occasions when I agree with opposition leader Pierre Poilivre who commented that Freeland “knows him better than anyone and she knows he’s out of control.”

Former senior Liberal staffer Carlene Variyan, commenting on Justin’s state of mind, aptly put it another way: “There’s a level of delusion there that is hard to comprehend.” Indeed.

What else is there for the deluded man but to step down? The 23 Liberal MPs who recently wrote a letter asking him to resign are now doubling down, and so they must. That six cabinet ministers have announced they won’t be running in the next election isn’t exactly a vote of confidence either.

As to what brought on Trudeau’s decision, I can only guess. Freeland’s resignation letter offers a hint when she wrote “you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada” and then refers specifically to “costly political gimmicks.” One suspects she is referring to the recent GST holiday and the $250 cheques for working people.

As for the prime minister’s thinking, aside from dreaming up costly political gimmicks, perhaps he is a little too eager to get Mark Carney into cabinet, elected or not. Apparently the prime minister and his top guns are determined to bring the former bank governor into the fold.

Trudeau, the “proud feminist” as he calls himself, has done more for women in politics than any other prime minister. After all, he appointed Canada’s first female finance minister. Yet, ironically, when he embarrasses himself by misusing a colleague, the colleague turns out to be a woman.

Anyone one who reads this blog knows I am a great admirer of Chrystia Freeland. With her education, experience and compassion she is a politician Canadians would be fortunate to have as their prime minister. She is the very best federal politics has to offer. To see the party I have supported misuse her has dismayed and disappointed me.

The good news is she’s sticking around. She will continue to represent University—Rosedale and intends to defend her riding in the next election. Could she still run for the leadership of the Liberals? This is not a lady to underestimate. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.