Jane Philpott speaks publicly for first time since cabinet resignation

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Days after resigning from cabinet over the SNC-Lavalin affair, Jane Philpott has made her first public remarks, speaking at an International Women’s Day event in Ottawa.

Philpott kicked off her speech saying those expecting her to address the events of the last week will be disappointed, but her remarks seem to hold a different weight given the dramatic developments in this controversy.

“It’s messy, it’s hard,” Philpott added. “When we break down silos, when we bring people together with different world views to the same table and try to reconcile those views to achieve common objectives, there are bound to be challenges.”

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

She focused on gender discrimination, balance, and equality, but also said she takes the same approach to every job she holds whether it’s the boardroom or the cabinet table.

“I want to challenge the status quo, if the status quo is getting in the way of helping people I want to ask tough questions.”

Philpott did, however, praise the prime minister’s gender balance cabinet, saying it changed the country and possibly the world by raising the bar for other government’s.

She resigned as treasury board president on Monday saying she had lost confidence in the government’s handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair and allegations the prime minister’s office pressured her the former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould.

Philphott did not take any questions from reporters.

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