Justin Trudeau promised to do better for Canada's Indigenous people. Isn't that why he appointed Jody Wilson-Raybould as justice minister?
We have heard from the bipartisan political experts and the lame attempts to use her own words to excuse a bigger problem. The Liberals are using her statement over and over and over that she herself said nothing happened that was illegal but wouldn't a more accurate description be nothing illegal happened yet? The prime minister and other key people were going to use her position in government as the fall person if this influential pressure ever came to light. How did Trudeau put it - that this would be her sole decision?
Canadians need to wake up to how far reaching this would be, especially for an Indigenous person. When Native people infiltrate a position in government or any other profile in this country they carry a 200-year-old history torch and have a steep climb to overcome how Canadians see our people. How many times does a First Nation person need to expose what really happens behind closed doors in this country when it comes to privilege, entitlement, industry over the law and profits over people?
How can we scream foul when it comes to industry breaking environmental laws for profits using jobs as the excuse? Isn't this what SNC-Lavalin is doing?
How many conflicting decisions can the federal government make before they answer to the discrepancies?
Wilson-Raybould did what she thought was the right thing to do... her demotion was punishment and for Canadians she did the right thing. No government can stand behind the people's constitutional rights and freedoms if they punish people for telling the truth. If she takes the fall for telling the truth, this sets an outrageous precedent in this country.
The political pundits or experts are spinning bipartisan political viewpoints and demonizing her "subtlety" is a disservice to everyone in public service and those thinking they would like to make a difference. The punishment to the Liberals will come from the people when it is time to go to the polls.
Heads of state are the reflection of Canadians, our personal ethics, morals and what we represent as a people. Canadians should not stand up for government, no matter their stripe, to interfere or act on behalf of the private sector. Government's job is to uphold our constitution, uphold our laws, and regulate "government policy" intended to protect Canadians.
When a person makes the decision to run for in political party, you are held to a higher standard, you give up your independence for the greater good, you have to live a life under a microscope, you are servant of the people and country, you are not entitled, you are not in a position to advance your interests no matter how you dress this up. What the 11 people of the sitting government did should not set precedent for the future.
Any company that offers its services in other countries should behave the same as they must at home. Don't bribe, don't take shortcuts, operate ethically because if your business is from Canada you have a greater responsibility to represent what Canada stands for.
Have we become a country where government isolate and contain the issues for no other purpose then to hide a trend, create a ripple effect, make it a he said, she said? Is this what we want for Canada? This is the greater question and could have been avoided if the prime minister had allowed the legal system to do their job. Did he fail in his duty? Didn't he take the oath of office to uphold the constitution and the law?
SNC-Lavalin should have made their own case of innocence and argument to protect Canadian jobs. How many times do companies need to be caught before their company leaders change their business practises at home or overseas? When we do wrong, this is an opportunity to do better.
Should the prime minister put party before person and step down?
Jo-Anne Berezanski
North Saanich
