Trudeau expels ex ministers in bid to end Liberal party crisis

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expelled two former cabinet members whom he said had undermined the ruling Liberal Party as he moves to end the worst crisis of his tenure.

Trudeau announced on Tuesday that former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and former treasury board minister Jane Philpott would no longer be allowed to sit as Liberal legislators.

The Liberals have been in turmoil since Wilson-Raybould said in February that officials had inappropriately pressured her to ensure construction company SNC-Lavalin Group Inc escaped a corruption trial when she was justice minister last year.

“The trust that previously existed between these two individuals and our team has been broken,” Trudeau told an emergency meeting of caucus.

“Our political opponents win when Liberals are divided. We can’t afford to make that mistake. Canadians are counting on us,” added Trudeau, who came into office in November 2015 and faces a re-election contest this year.

Reflecting on what PM has done, my thoughts are w/ my constituents in #VanGran, my dedicated staff & volunteers, my family & friends & all Canadians who believed in a new way of doing politics. I will take the time to reflect & talk to my supporters about what happens next. (1/2)

— Jody Wilson-Raybould (@Puglaas) April 2, 2019

Trudeau cited repeated questioning of his leadership as well as the fact that Wilson-Raybould publicised a secretly recorded conversation she had with Michael Wernick, Canada’s top civil servant.

He called that “unconscionable”.

Wilson-Raybould was demoted in January and resigned the next month. Philpott quit shortly afterwards, saying she had lost confidence in how Trudeau was handling the matter.

Tuesday’s move represents a retreat by Trudeau who, as recently as last week, said the Liberals needed strong legislators with differing points of view.

But increasingly angry parliamentarians demanded both women be removed from caucus on the grounds they were undermining party unity. 

Polls show the crisis has cut public support for the Liberals to such an extent that they could lose an October election to the official opposition Conservatives.

The scandal led to multiple resignations, including Gerry Butts, Trudeau’s top aide and best friend. Trudeau has denied any wrongdoing.

It is also starting to hit his fortunes in the populous province of Quebec, where the Liberals say they need to pick up seats in October to remain in power.

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said Trudeau’s decision to expel the two politicians from the Liberal Party sent a message that “if you tell the truth, there is no room for you in the Liberal Party”.

Wilson-Raybould said on Twitter that Trudeau had also told her she could not run for the Liberals in the October election.

Philpott said on Facebook that she “did not initiate the crisis now facing the party or the prime minister”.