Justin Trudeau scandal: Canadian prime minister expels former attorney general and ex-minister from Liberal party caucus

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has expelled his ex-attorney general and another former minister from the Liberal Party, months before a general election is held in the country.

Citing repeated questioning of his leadership, Mr Trudeau also said it was ”unconscionable” that former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould had publicised a secretly recorded conversation she had with Michael Wernick, Canada’s top civil servant.

Jane Philpott, a former cabinet minister who stepped down from her role after she said she lost confidence in how the government has handled the affair, was also kicked out of the party.

Both had remained as members of Mr Trudeau’s party in the country’s parliament after resigning but kept making remarks that damaged the prime minister and the party.

“The trust that previously existed between these two individuals and our team has been broken,” Mr Trudeau told the media shortly after informing his caucus about the expulsions.

He added that they could not be part of his team “if they can’t honestly say they have confidence in this team”.

The pair were high-profile female ministers in Mr Trudeau’s cabinet, half of which are women. Ms Wilson-Raybould was Canada’s first indigenous justice minister.

Ms Wilson-Raybould tweeted that Mr Trudeau had removed her and she will not be a Liberal candidate in autumn’s election.

“What I can say is that I hold my head high & that I can look myself in the mirror knowing I did what I was required to do and what needed to be done based on principles & values that must always transcend party,” she wrote. “I have no regrets. I spoke truth as I will continue to do.”

She has previously claimed that she was demoted from her role as attorney general and justice minister to veterans’ affairs minister in January because she refused to give in to pressure to enter into a remediation agreement with a Canadian company accused of bribing officials in Libya.

Had it been criminally prosecuted, engineering giant SNC-Lavalin would have been prevented from receiving any federal government business for a decade.

The company which has 9,000 employees in Canada and more than 50,000 worldwide, has openly lobbied for an agreement that would allow it to avoid prosecution and instead face alternative penalties or measures, like a fine.

Ms Wilson-Raybould claimed members of Mr Trudeau’s inner circle pressured her to cut a deal, and when she refused, she was removed from her position as justice minister.

The scandal has led to multiple resignations, including Gerry Butts, Mr Trudeau’s top aide and best friend. And it has damaged the party.

In a letter released before her expulsion, Ms Wilson-Raybould pleaded with her colleagues to remain and acknowledged they are enraged but said she was “trying to help protect the prime minister and the government from a horrible mess”.

She said: “I know many of you are angry, hurt, and frustrated. And frankly so am I, and I can only speak for myself. I am angry, hurt, and frustrated because I feel and believe I was upholding the values that we all committed to.”

Mr Trudeau has been under pressure as a result of the scandal.

The secret recording Ms Wilson-Raybould made public features Mr Wernick telling Ms Wilson-Raybould that Mr Trudeau “is determined, quite firm” in finding a way to avoid a prosecution that could put 9,000 jobs at risk.

Ms Wilson-Raybould can be heard saying she regards the pressure as “inappropriate”.

Ms Philpott said neither she nor Ms Wilson-Raybould initiated the crisis now facing Mr Trudeau and the party.

“Rather than acknowledge the obvious – that a range of individuals had inappropriately attempted to pressure the former attorney general in relation to a prosecutorial decision – and apologise for what occurred, a decision was made to attempt to deny the obvious – to attack Jody Wilson-Raybould’s credibility and attempt to blame her,” Ms Philpott said in posting on social media.

“That approach now appears to be focused on whether Jody Wilson-Raybould should have audiotaped the clerk instead of the circumstances that prompted Jody Wilson-Raybould to feel compelled to do so.”

Mr Trudeau said past civil wars within the Liberal party damaged the party. “Our political opponents win when Liberals are divided,” Mr Trudeau said to a loud ovation in caucus.