Canadian Minister Steps Down Amid Political Uproar Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suffers setback as minister at center of brewing controversy resigns 0 Comments By Paul Vieira and Kim Mackrael
https://www.wsj.com/articles/canadian-minister-steps-down-amid-ethics-probe-11549992251
The biggest political storm of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s term in office escalated on Tuesday with the resignation of the cabinet minister at the center of allegations that his office interfered in a criminal case.
Jody Wilson-Raybould, who until last month was Canada’s justice minister, said she was tendering her resignation “with a heavy heart” from her post as veterans-affairs minister, in a statement released on her Twitter account. Her surprise decision, for which she gave no further explanation, is the latest development in a political uproar coming just months before Mr. Trudeau hits the campaign trail to seek re-election.
Ms. Wilson-Raybould has declined to comment for nearly a week since allegations emerged that officials in Mr. Trudeau’s office tried last year to persuade her as justice minister to drop a criminal prosecution and cut a plea deal with SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., a Montreal engineering company facing bribery-and-fraud charges. She had invoked solicitor-client privilege as a reason why she couldn’t discuss the matter further, given her previous role as the Canadian cabinet’s legal adviser.
Mr. Trudeau and other government officials have vehemently denied the allegations, first revealed in a report by Toronto’s Globe and Mail.
In a statement, a spokesman for Mr. Trudeau said Ms. Wilson-Raybould informed the Canadian leader Monday night of her decision, and Mr. Trudeau convened a cabinet meeting Tuesday morning to discuss the development. Mr. Trudeau is scheduled to speak to reporters in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday afternoon.
In the meantime, Mr. Trudeau has asked Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan to take on additional duties with the veterans portfolio.
Canada’s ethics commissioner said Monday there was enough evidence, based on media reports and other commentary, to suggest there may have been a possible violation of the country’s Conflict of Interest Act, and has started an investigation.
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