Canadian treasury board minister quits over SNC-Lavalin scandal

World
Europe

Canadian Treasury Board Minister Jane Philpott announced her resignation Monday, saying that she had lost confidence in how the government had dealt with the escalating political scandal of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This comes after Gerald Butts quit as Trudeau's principal secretary last month over the SNC-Lavalin affair.

The recent events, including the SNC-Lavalin scandal, "have shaken the federal government in recent weeks and after serious reflection… I have lost confidence in how the government has dealt with this matter and in how it has responded to the issues raised," Philpott said in a statement, "I have concluded that I must resign as a member of cabinet."

"Unfortunately, the evidence of efforts by politicians and/or officials to pressure the former attorney general to intervene in the criminal case involving SNC-Lavalin, and the evidence as to the content of those efforts, have raised serious concerns for me. Those concerns have been augmented by the views expressed by my constituents and other Canadians," said Philpott.

Trudeau accepted Philpott's resignation and expressed his disappointment, "We are allowed to have disagreements and debate," he said. He also pledged to "take concerns over SNC-Lavalin affairs very seriously".

Former Canadian Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould arrives to give her testimony about the SNC-LAVALIN affair before a justice committee hearing on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, February 27, 2019. /VCG Photo

The resignation came five days after Wilson-Raybould told the Justice Committee of House of Commons that she faced "consistent and sustained" political pressure from Trudeau and senior officials, including veiled threats on the need to shelve the criminal prosecution of the Montreal construction and engineering giant SNC-Lavalin.

Philpott is a close friend of Wilson-Raybould, who herself resigned on February 12 after she was unexpectedly demoted in January. Wilson-Raybould said last week she was convinced her refusal to help SNC-Lavalin was behind the demotion.

Canada's Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould (L) and Health Minister Jane Philpott (R) attend a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 13, 2017. /VCG Photo

The resignation is another setback for a prime minister who came to power in November 2015 promising "sunny ways," more accountability in politics and a greater number of women ministers.

Gerald Butts, who quit as Trudeau's principal secretary last month over the SNC-Lavalin affair, will testify to the House of Commons justice committee from 10 a.m. (15:00 GMT) to noon (17:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

(Cover: Newly-appointed president of the Treasury Board Jane Philpott poses for a photo with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during Trudeau's cabinet shuffle, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 14, 2019. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP ,Xinhua News Agency