Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland charged for speeding in Alberta

Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s minister of finance and deputy prime minister, has formally been charged for extreme speeding after she was caught driving 142 km/h on a 100 km/h highway.

News website, The Counter Signal, reported that Freeland was charged on August 15 while driving in the Peace River area in Alberta. The report said that Freeland was alone in the car, without RCMP’s protective police services.

In Alberta, speeding at 51 km/h or more over the speed limit is criminal speeding, requiring a mandatory court appearance.

Freeland was in Alberta on official business, on the behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to inspect industrial facilities and meet Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, the report added.

Counter Signal said Freeland has not been convicted by a court of law, and it is unclear if the minister of Finance will fight the charges.