Thursday, July 8, 2021

As she departs the federal political scene, Vancouver-Granville MP Jody Wilson-Raybould has a few things to say ...

The opening page to today's announcement from MP
Jody Wilson-Raybould announcing that she won't be running
in the next federal election

With the election drums banging loud these days towards what some political observes suggest will be a summer vote for the House of Commons, the Independent MP from Vancouver Granville made a significant announced this morning. 

That as Jody Wilson-Raybould announced that she will not seek re-election should the Prime Minister take us into a summer vote.

One of the most recognizable of Canada's Indigenous leaders, Ms. Wilson-Raybould was recruited by the Liberals and successfully ran in 2015, making history as a Cabinet appointment in the high profile position of Justice Minister and Attorney General.

However, holding to her principles and rule of law, found her on the wrong side of the Prime Minister's Office over an ethics investigation and shortly after the controversy broke out, Ms. Raybould-Wislon was out

The MP first sitting as a Liberal back bencher and then declaring herself an Independent, something that did not affect her popularity in BC, as she was returned to the Minority Parliament as the Independent MP for the riding in the last election.

Her four page correspondence today traces much of that history, as well as to provide her view of the challenging situations that the nation currently finds itself in, with her commentary noting that she will remain engaged in the discussion.

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One of the most telling passages of her letter does serve to highlight the current state of governance in Ottawa with much control in the office of the PMO and less and less of it shared with the elected officials that voters send to represent them.

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The full correspondence for her constituents and those with an interest in Federal politics can be found from her social media feed here, and it's well worth digging into.

While Ms. Wilson-Raybould be taking some time off to chart the course for her next national engagement,  and how she will be able to serve British Columbia and Canada on the course of reconciliation an other topics of our time, we will also be learning much, much more about her life, career and time in the Trudeau cabinet.

The now former politician (for now at least) turned author will see her Book "Indian in the Cabinet" released this fall, a project that offers up the promise of a fairly detailed look into some of the recent history out of Ottawa. 

The publicity piece for the book noting how her work is: the story of why Wilson-Raybould got into federal politics, her experience as an Indigenous leader sitting around the Cabinet table, her proudest achievements, and how she moved forward after the very public SNC-Lavalin affair. Now sitting as an Independent Member of Parliament, Wilson-Raybould believes there is a better way to govern and a better way for politics—one that will make a better country for all.

Today's announcement of her departure from the federal scene will surely make for one of the dominant narratives of the news flow for the day, you can catch up on some of the comment and coverage of it from our political blog D'Arcy McGee.




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