Trudeau speaks in Toronto, following Jane Philpott’s resignation from cabinet

OTTAWA – Treasury Board president Jane Philpott has resigned from the federal cabinet, saying she’s “lost confidence” in the way the Trudeau government has dealt with the SNC-Lavalin affair.

Philpott’s resignation comes just less than a month after former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet amid allegations that the Prime Minister’s Office had improperly pressured her to stop a criminal prosecution of Montreal engineering giant SNC-Lavalin.

“Sadly, I have lost confidence in how the government has dealt with this matter and in how it has responded to the issues raised,” she stated in the open letter.

“I have been considering the events that have shaken the federal government in recent weeks and after serious reflection, I have concluded that I must resign as a member of cabinet.”

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Philpott is good friends with Wilson-Raybould, who delivered bombshell testimony last week accusing officials of relentlessly pressuring her and even issuing veiled threats to try to get her to co-operate.

She says “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.”

Moreover, she says the principle of cabinet solidarity requires all ministers to speak in support of the government and its policies at all times — a requirement she now finds “untenable.”

Philpott says it “grieves” her to leave the portfolio, but adds “I must abide by my core values, my ethical responsibilities and constitutional obligations. There can be a cost to acting on one’s principles, but there is a bigger cost to abandoning them.”

The MP says she will continue her role as an MP for Markham-Stouffville.

Qualtrough appointed acting President of Treasury Board

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has appointed Public Services Minister Carla Qualtrough as the acting President of the Treasury Board.

At a Liberal climate action rally in Toronto on Monday night, Trudeau thanked Philpott for her service in his opening remarks.

“I know Ms. Philpott has felt this way for some time,” he said. “While I am disappointed, I understand her decision to step down and I want to thank her for her service.”

The Prime Minister was interrupted multiple times by loud protesters, but continued, “In a democracy like ours and in a space where we value our diversity so strongly, we are allowed to have disagreements and debate, we even encourage it.”

Trudeau said Philpott’s concerns have been taken seriously.

“This matter has generated an important discussion [about] how democratic institutions, specifically the federal ministry and the staff that support it, is critical and core to all our principals,” he added.

RELATED: Wilson-Raybould still plans to run for re-election as a Liberal

Philpott was named to Treasury Board in mid-January, after Scott Brison left the post and retired from politics.

Fleetwood-Port Kells MP Ken Hardie has shown his support for Philpott, following her resignation from cabinet. Commenting on her Facebook post, Hardie calls her resignation a “regrettable” situation.

“You’ve been awesome in your roles, and perhaps with time, you’ll be back to provide the leadership and expertise that have made you so many fans.”

Meanwhile, the leader of the Conservatives says the Trudeau government is “in chaos.”

Following Philpott’s resignation, Andrew Scheer took to Twitter, again calling for the prime minister’s resignation.

“He wouldn’t allow the former Attorney General to speak freely, so we don’t know her fully story. Trudeau’s story changes daily and won’t come clean with Canadians. He needs to fully cooperate with any RCMP investigations and resign.”

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has pointed to Philpott’s resignation as further suggestion that a public inquiry is necessary.

“We once again call on Justin Trudeau to agree to an independent public inquiry, now,” Singh said in a statement.

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