TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced the biggest test of his political career after Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, long one of his most powerful and loyal ministers, resigned from the Cabinet on Monday.

The stunning move raised questions about how much longer the prime minister of nearly 10 years — whose popularity has plummeted due to concerns about inflation and immigration — can stay on as his administration scrambles to deal with incoming U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Trudeau swiftly named longtime ally and close friend Dominic LeBlanc, the public safety minister who recently joined him at dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, to replace Freeland.

After being sworn in, LeBlanc said he and Trudeau are focused on the cost of living facing Canadians and on finding common ground with Trump on border security and economic issues.

Trudeau later told a room of party supporters that it was “the absolute privilege of my life to serve as your prime minister.”

– The Associated Press