OTTAWA - Chrystia Freeland abruptly left Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet on Tuesday to take on a new role as Canada's special envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Freeland's decision to step down from Carney's front bench prompted a hastily organized mini-cabinet shuffle late in the day at Rideau Hall, where Freeland's two roles were divided up among other cabinet ministers.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc was sworn in as internal trade minister, while government House leader Steven MacKinnon took over the transport portfolio.

Freeland announced her resignation from cabinet on Tuesday following media reports that cited anonymous sources saying she was expected to leave.

She left Tuesday's regular cabinet meeting smiling and talking with Carney as they walked

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