West Vancouver, Sunshine Coast and Sea to Sky MP Pam Goldsmith-Jones says she has confidence in Justin Trudeau鈥檚 leadership as both prime minister and head of the Liberal party, after a tumultuous week in Ottawa, and she hopes the two MPs at the centre of the tumult remain with the Liberals.
Following former minister Jody Wilson-Raybould鈥檚 appearance before the Commons justice committee last week, this week saw Trudeau鈥檚 former principal secretary Gerald Butts appear to give his version of what Wilson-Raybould called 鈥渋nappropriate pressure鈥� over her handling of the SNC-Lavalin file while she was minister of justice and attorney general and her eventual shuffle to a new cabinet post.
The prime minister himself weighed in on Wilson-Raybould, SNC and Monday鈥檚 resignation from cabinet of Jane Philpott on Thursday morning.
鈥淚 think the world of Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott, they are close personal friends of mine and I think together with Canadians we appreciate the work they鈥檝e done and their incredibly capable leadership as ministers,鈥� Goldsmith-Jones told Coast Reporter ahead of a Mar. 8 event in Gibsons to announce a new housing initiative.
She also said Trudeau clearing Wilson-Raybould to discuss the SNC decision before the justice committee was 鈥渁 clear example of open government.鈥�
Goldsmith-Jones also said she felt asking Wilson-Raybould to seek a second opinion on the SNC corruption case was appropriate. 鈥淭he idea of receiving a second opinion on new legislation is, to me, a sign of good governance and a sign of wishing to consider everything before we make a decision.鈥�
When asked if she felt the controversy boiled down to the typical disagreements within cabinets and political caucuses, she said, 鈥淚 appreciate politicians that are strong and stand their grounds, but also it鈥檚 really important to consider all points of view.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 absolutely confident in the Prime Minister鈥檚 leadership,鈥� Goldsmith-Jones said. 鈥淚 can give examples, especially for our community, of when I have stood up to his decisions and when he has said 鈥� particularly on transition away from open-net fish farms 鈥� you are absolutely right to advocate for that.鈥�
Goldsmith- Jones, who has already been confirmed as the Liberal candidate for the riding in the coming election, said she remains 鈥�100 per cent behind鈥� moving forward with the government鈥檚 agenda and hopes Wilson-Raybould and Philpott remain on the Liberal benches.
鈥淚鈥檓 an advocate of them remaining in caucus, I think that they have been very clear about wishing to remain members of the Liberal party and members of caucus. I look forward to their leadership as, I presume, backbenchers 鈥� but I don鈥檛 know. They鈥檝e worked very, very, hard and I think it鈥檚 important to recognize that work and recognize that they want to play a different role,鈥� she said.
