FELDSTED: Whether Wilson-Raybould and Philpott would have remained in the government caucus is a side-show. It makes no difference to examination of the core issue
Gerald Butts Gives Justice Committee Notes,
Texts About SNC-Lavalin
Canadian Press ~~ Huff Post ~~ 03/31/2019
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's former principal secretary
Gerald Butts says he has provided notes and text messages to the House of
Commons justice committee in response to evidence filed last week by former
attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould on the ongoing SNC-Lavalin controversy.
In a tweet published today, Butts says he has handed over notes and
texts between himself and Wilson-Raybould after having reviewed the materials
she submitted last week.
Why
should we care what Gerald Butts has to say?
He was
a paid clerk in the Prime Minister’s office (PMO) prior to quitting when the Lavalin
scandal heated up. He is appointed, not elected and unaccountable to the
public. He does the bidding of his employer and is essentially a carrier of water
not craftsmen of policy and directors of operations. He cannot speak for the
government or for the Prime Minister.
The
people we need to hear from, those who we elected and will hold accountable in
October, are absent and silent. If Mr. Butts was integral to setting government
direction and policy, the Prime Minister has to confirm that he does not get
direction from his cabinet. We need to know.
We
should not have to speculate on which government Ministers support the concept
of allowing corporations facing criminal charges, to buy their way out of a
trial.
Why do
they believe that opening Canada as a haven for crooks and scoundrels will
attract ethical and honest business and investments?
The
core issue of the SNC Lavalin scandal is whether or not we will maintain an
independent justice system free from political interference. All of the
communications, Justice Committee testimony, and he said - she said melodrama
is aimed at avoiding the core issue.
Whether
Wilson-Raybould and Philpott would have remained in the government caucus or
not is a side-show. It makes no difference to examination of the core issue.
The government position that it has a duty to
interfere in the Lavalin prosecution to ‘save jobs’ is hogwash. We are asked to
believe that saving Lavalin jobs warrants interference in the administration of
justice but saving jobs for people employed by law abiding corporations does
not. Hogwash.
Government
Ministers and caucus members are indignantly and piously chastising
Wilson-Raybould for having recorded, without warning, a conversation with
Michael Wernick ... an individual who was engaged in unlawful attempts to
interfere in the justice process.
The double standard reeks of hypocrisy.
I do
not think much of a government that creates a legal loophole for corporations
accused of crimes. The failure to provide critics and the public with a
compelling, rational and reasonable explanation of why that is necessary raises
suspicions of bribery and cronyism.
Prove
us wrong or apologize and rescind the offending legislation.
John Feldsted
Political Consultant & Strategist
Winnipeg,
Manitoba
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