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The Niagara Independent, February 15, 2019 \u2014 <\/em>A week is a long time in politics. For Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Prime Minister\u2019s Office (PMO) staff this past week probably felt like an eternity.<\/p>\n The alleged interference of the PMO with the Canadian judiciary process and the surfacing backstories of how PM Trudeau and his staff pressured the Justice Minister have rocked the corridors of power. The allegation is that the PM wanted his Justice Minister to direct federal prosecutors to make a \u201cdeferred prosecution agreement\u201d\u00a0so that multinational engineering firm SNC-Lavalin could avoid trial on $130 million bribery and fraud charges\u00a0in relation to contracts in Libya. In short, the PM wanted the Justice Minister to deal a \u201cget out of jail free\u201d card to the Quebec firm.<\/p>\n Now, with each new revelation about the PMO\u2019s treatment of former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, Canadians\u2019 core impressions of this progressive government and its Leader are being shattered. Here are four surprising twists of the unfolding scandal revealed in the last few days.<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0 The resignation letter: When news broke on Tuesday morning of Wilson-Raybould\u2019s resignation letter all pretenses of a united Liberal caucus were dropped. The letter itself was cutting. Without stating the reason for leaving Cabinet, Wilson-Raybould observed: \u201cWhen I sought federal elected office, it was with the goal of implementing a positive and progressive vision of change on behalf of all Canadians and a different way of doing politics.\u201d She stated she was leaving with \u201ca heavy heart\u201d and thanked everyone \u2013 except the Prime Minister \u2013 for their support.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 \u00a0The father\u2019s rage: The former Justice Minister\u2019s father, a hereditary BC Chief Bill Wilson, was incensed and did not filter anything with his statements. Bill Wilson tweeted: \u201cWish I could protect my daughter, JODY, in this coming storm, but then I remembered that she is more than able to defend herself. History will provide that she did the right thing \u2013 Her DEMOTION makes sense now, ULGY POLITICAL SENSE. \u2013 Good for you JODY !! \u2013 MUM would be proud of you. I AM PROUD OF YOU !!!\u201d<\/p>\n The indigenous communities across Canada have rallied behind Jody Wilson-Raybould as have many of her admirers. At different times this week #standwithJody has been trending on Twitter and it has now appeared as a Facebook profile frame.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 \u00a0The PMO slurs: The attempt by PMO staff to recast the story backfired. Through Tuesday and Wednesday there were many derogatory whispers demeaning the character of the former Justice Minister. PMO staff spun that Wislon-Raybould was someone \u201cwho others felt they had trouble trusting\u201d and has reportedly \u201cbeen in it for herself\u201d such that \u201ceverything is very Jody-centric.\u201d<\/p>\n This lead to a public backlash by the union of BC Chiefs who called for a halt to the PMO\u2019s media attack. The Chiefs released an open letter: The discriminatory, sexist comments about Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould being spread by government officials and staff are appalling and condemnable. They call on the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, \u201cWe demand that you immediately and categorically publicly condemn the racist and sexist innuendo about Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould that is being spread by unnamed elected officials and staff of your government\u2026. They perpetuate colonial-era, sexist stereotypes that Indigenous women cannot be powerful, forthright, and steadfast in positions of power\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0 \u00a0The muzzling of Wilson-Raybould: From the time the Globe and Mail<\/em> story broke the former Justice Minister and Attorney General said she could not comment on the matter as she was bound by solicitor-client privilege. The current Justice Minister David Lametti, PMO Principle Secretary Gerald Butts \u2013 even the Prime Minister \u2013 could all comment on the affair, but Wilson-Raybould could not. In previous government scandals, former PMs have lifted solicitor-client privilege so that their Attorney Generals could clear the air. This week, repeatedly, PM Trudeau\u00a0has been urged to\u00a0waive solicitor-client privilege so\u00a0Wilson-Raybould\u00a0can speak freely about the case. He has refused.<\/p>\n Parliament has directed its Justice Committee MPs to initiate an open and transparent review of the handling of SNC-Lavalin and the PMO\u2019s dealings with the Justice Minister. However, the latest news the Liberal members on the committee used their majority to shut down opposition calls for Wilson-Raybould and Gerald Butts to testify. All motions to shed more light on the matter were blocked. The Liberal MPs voted to hold its next meeting in camera<\/em> behind closed doors.<\/p>\n Canadians can expect more surprising twists in week two.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chris George<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0is an Ottawa-based government affairs advisor and wordsmith, president of\u00a0CG&A COMMUNICATIONS<\/a>. Contact:\u00a0ChrisG.George@gmail.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n