When it comes to Canada’s biggest he said/she said standoff, most Canadians are on Jody Wilson-Raybould’s side, according to a new poll.
The poll, taken by Ipsos, suggests 67 per cent of Canadians believe the testimony of Wilson-Raybould in the SNC-Lavalin affair, while only 33 per cent believe Trudeau.
Wilson-Raybould alleges high ranking government officials pressured her while she was attorney general to give a beneficial plea deal to SNC-Lavalin, which is currently on trial for bribery.
Nearly three-quarters of Canadians believe that the RCMP should also get involved in the situation and that charges should be laid against both politicians and staffers if appropriate.
Since this poll was released, Wilson-Raybould and another former cabinet minister, Jane Philpott, have both been expelled from the Liberal caucus as a direct result of the SNC-Lavalin affair.
Trudeau cited a “breakdown of trust” as his reason for removing the two members.
Wilson-Raybould released a recorded phone call between herself and former Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick, implicating the official and the PMO further into the affair.
Philpott, who had no known part in the SNC-Lavalin affair, resigned from cabinet in March after saying she lost confidence in the government’s handling of the issue.
Both remained members of the Liberal caucus and intended to run as Liberals in the federal election this October.
As this scandal has unfolded, the Liberals have plummeted in the polls. Most polls since February have put the Conservatives as the most popular party in Canada.
A more recent poll from Ipsos gave the Conservatives an impressive 10 point lead over the governing Liberals.
It remains to be seen if the Liberals will be able to recover as the situation continues to develop.
Both Wilson-Raybould and Philpott have publicly voiced their disappointment about their removal.
Philpott has voiced her dissatisfaction that she was not allowed to defend herself during the caucus meeting where she was expelled.
“Sadly the decision was made without me being provided any opportunity to speak to national caucus. This is profoundly disheartening for me, my staff and my family – and I know people in Markham–Stouffville will also be disappointed,” said Philpott.
