ROTHENBURGER: The rumble in Ottawa is now officially a he said-she said situation. Butts testimony presents very different picture of JWR affair
Former
principal secretary Gerald Butts gave his side of the story today (March 6,
2019) and it is vastly different than the one Jody Wilson-Raybould offered the
Commons justice committee last week.
The
former attorney-general and justice minister had painted a picture of
“inappropriate pressure” from the PMO with respect to the SNC-Lavelin legal
case. Butts, however, ran through a chronology of discussions with her over the
months that suggested they were respectful and appropriate.
Butts
also rejected, in detail, suggestions that Wilson-Raybould was demoted for
standing up to the PMO, instead saying it was entirely to do with a necessary
shuffle due to a vacancy in cabinet.
He
did, however, concede that relations between his office and Wilson-Raybould
deteriorated and “I take my fair share of responsibility for that state of
affairs.”
But
he said discussions with her about SNC-Lavelin were about making sure she had
all the information she needed, and “absolutely not” about interfering.
While
carefully avoiding any verbal attacks on Wilson-Raybould, he denied the tone
and substance of many of the conversations she had related.
He
fended off a grilling by Opposition committee members, who at times seemed at a
loss and even somewhat frustrated in their efforts to contradict him.
So
where to now? The reaction to his testimony will be interesting to observe over
the next couple of days but it clearly demonstrates there’s always more than
one side to every story.
It’s
now also clear, though, that it’s time for Justin Trudeau to speak up and
explain himself in detail. Until he does that, there will continue to be a
shadow over this whole thing regardless of what Butts and others might say.
Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper
editor. He publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on
the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
Comments
Post a Comment