Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he was surprised and disappointed by Jody Wilson-RaybouldB次元官网网址檚 resignation Tuesday.
The former justice minister resigned from the federal cabinet one day after Trudeau suggested her continuing presence there was proof she didnB次元官网网址檛 think sheB次元官网网址檇 been improperly pressured to help SNC-Lavalin avoid criminal prosecution.
At an appearance in Winnipeg late Tuesday afternoon, Trudeau said the government did its job on the SNC-Lavalin file and if anyone in the cabinet thought anything improper had happened, they had a duty to raise it with him at the time. Wilson-Raybould never mentioned it, he said.
Nevertheless, her departure added fuel to opposition accusations of political interference in the justice system. And it left TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 reconciliation agenda with CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Indigenous Peoples in tatters.
READ MORE:
Wilson-Raybould had been CanadaB次元官网网址檚 first Indigenous justice minister and the face of TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 commitment to make reconciliation his top priority.
In a letter to Trudeau published on her website, Wilson-Raybould said she was resigning B次元官网网址渨ith a heavy heartB次元官网网址� but did not explain why.
However, she said sheB次元官网网址檚 aware that B次元官网网址渕any Canadians wish for me speak (sic) on matters that have been in the media over the last weekB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� referring to the furor that erupted after a news report last Thursday alleged she was demoted to veterans-affairs minister in January from the prestigious justice and attorney general portfolio because she had refused to give in to pressure last fall from the Prime MinisterB次元官网网址檚 Office on the SNC-Lavalin case.
As the former attorney general, Wilson-Raybould has refused to comment on the allegation, citing solicitor-client privilege.
In her letter Tuesday, she said she has hired former Supreme Court justice Thomas Cromwell to advise her on B次元官网网址漷he topics that I am legally permitted to discuss in this matter.B次元官网网址�
Wilson-Raybould said she intends to continue serving as the MP for the riding of Vancouver-Granville. For the time being at least, she remains a member of the Liberal caucus.
Her exit came less than 24 hours after Trudeau said he had B次元官网网址渇ull confidenceB次元官网网址� in her and suggested she would have resigned from cabinet on principle if she had felt anyone had tried to improperly pressure her.
B次元官网网址淚n our system of government, of course, her presence in cabinet should actually speak for itself,B次元官网网址� he said following an event in Vancouver B次元官网网址� one that Wilson-Raybould didnB次元官网网址檛 attend, unlike a handful of fellow Liberals from the city.
TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 office issued a terse statement that made no attempt to put any gloss on Wilson-RaybouldB次元官网网址檚 departure from cabinet or to thank her for her service.
Wilson-Raybould informed the prime minister on Monday night of her intention to resign, the statement said. Trudeau informed the rest of his cabinet Tuesday morning about her decision and named Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan to take over responsibility for the veterans-affairs portfolio.
READ MORE:
In Fredericton, N.B., Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said Wilson-RaybouldB次元官网网址檚 resignation proves thereB次元官网网址檚 more to the SNC-Lavalin story than Trudeau has been letting on.
B次元官网网址淵esterday, he said that her presence (in cabinet) speaks for itself. Well, today, her resignation speaks for itself,B次元官网网址� Scheer said. B次元官网网址淐learly, there is something more than he has been forthcoming with.B次元官网网址�
Trudeau has denied Wilson-Raybould was pressured to instruct the director of public prosecutions to negotiate a remediation agreement with SNC-Lavalin rather than pursue a criminal trial on charges of corruption and bribery related to the companyB次元官网网址檚 efforts to secure government contracts in Libya.
On Monday, after meeting with Wilson-Raybould, Trudeau said she confirmed to him that he had specifically told her it was entirely up to her whether to prosecute the Montreal-based engineering giant.
The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on .
