Jody Wilson-Raybould | |
|---|---|
| Puglaas | |
.jpg) | |
| In office January 14 – February 12, 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Seamus O'Regan |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence MacAulay |
| Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada | |
| In office November 4, 2015 – January 14, 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Peter MacKay |
| Succeeded by | David Lametti |
| Member of Parliament forVancouver Granville | |
| In office October 19, 2015 – September 20, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Riding established |
| Succeeded by | Taleeb Noormohamed |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jody Wilson (1971-03-23)March 23, 1971 (age 54) Vancouver,British Columbia, Canada |
| Political party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal (until April 2019) |
| Spouse | |
| Relations | Bill Wilson (father) Bev Sellars (stepmother) Alfred Scow (uncle) |
| Residence | Vancouver[1] |
| Education | |
Jody Wilson-RaybouldPC OBC KC (born March 23, 1971), also known by her initialsJWR[2][3] and by herKwak’wala namePuglaas,[4][5] is a Canadian lawyer, author, and former politician who served as themember of Parliament (MP) for theBritish Columbia (BC)riding ofVancouver Granville from 2015 to 2021. She was initially elected as a member of theLiberal Party – serving asjustice minister and attorney general from 2015 to 2019, and briefly asveterans affairs minister andassociate national defence minister in 2019 – until she resigned in response to statements from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during theSNC-Lavalin affair. After she was expelled from the Liberal caucus, she continued to sit in Parliament as anindependent and was reelected in2019, but did not run in2021. Before entering federal politics, she was a BC provincialCrown attorney, a treaty commissioner and regional chief of the BCAssembly of First Nations.
Wilson-Raybould's mother is aEuro-Canadian and her father is a descendant of theMusgamagw Tsawataineuk andLaich-kwil-tach peoples, which are part of theKwakwakaʼwakw, also known as the Kwak’wala-speaking peoples. She is a member of theWe Wai Kai Nation. Wilson-Raybould carries the Kwak’wala name Puglaas which roughly translates to "woman born to noble people".[6][7]
Wilson-Raybould is the daughter ofBill Wilson (1944–2025), a First Nations hereditary chief, politician, and lawyer, and Sandra Wilson, a teacher.[8] She has a sister named Kory.[9] She was born atVancouver General Hospital. On Canadian national television in 1983, Wilson-Raybould's father informed then-Prime MinisterPierre Elliott Trudeau that his two daughters hoped to become lawyers and then Prime Minister some day.[8][10] Her parents divorced when Wilson-Raybould was a small child and she was raised by her mother[11] onVancouver Island, attending Robert Scott Elementary School inPort Hardy, British Columbia, where her mother also taught, and laterComox, British Columbia, graduating fromHighland Secondary School.[12] Her father later remarriedBev Sellars. She has two paternal half-brothers, Corey and William.[13] His uncle,Alfred Scow is the first Aboriginal person to graduate from a BC law school.[14]
Wilson-Raybould studied political science and history at theUniversity of Victoria where she was awarded herBachelor of Arts degree in 1996.[15][16] She then studied for aJuris Doctor from theUniversity of British Columbia Faculty of Law.
Wilson-Raybould is a lawyer by profession and was called to the bar in 2000 after articling at the Vancouver law firm of Connell Lightbody. She was a provincialCrown attorney in Vancouver's Main Street criminal courthouse in theDowntown Eastside, Canada's poorest neighbourhood, from 2000 to 2003.[17] Defence lawyer Terry La Liberté described her as a smart, fair, and skilled prosecutor who treated defendants with compassion, saying, "She has actually talked to the people who are affected. She has worked with these people and made choices about their future in a really meaningful way."[18] Wilson-Raybould called it an eye-opening experience, saying, “I always knew that there was an over-representation of indigenous peoples and vulnerable people in the criminal justice system but it became certainly more pronounced to me being down there for almost four years." She also said her experience as a prosecutor reconfirmed her commitment to public service and its importance.[19]
In 2003, she took a position as a process advisor at theBC Treaty Commission, a body established to oversee the negotiations of modern treaties between First Nations and the Crown. In 2004, she was elected commissioner by the chiefs of the First Nations Summit. She served as commissioner for nearly seven years, one and a half of which she spent as the acting chief commissioner, earning a reputation for bringing opposing sides together in the complex treaty negotiation process.City of Vancouver first-ever Aboriginal Relations Manager[20] Ginger Gosnell-Myers, then a youth representative on roundtables Wilson-Raybould organized, said working with her as a young person "felt like I was being heard for the first time in a process that was normally exclusionary. She went out of her way to make sure that this diversity was reflected".[18] As a Commissioner, she helped to advance a number of treaty tables, includingTsawwassen First Nation, which became the first in BC to achieve a treaty under the BC Treaty Process.[21] Wilson-Raybould also helped the establishment of a "Common Table" of 60 plus First Nations and the Crown.[22]
Wilson-Raybould was elected to council for theWe Wai Kai Nation in January 2009, a role that she credits for strengthening her understanding and commitment to work at the provincial and national level advocating for First Nations' governance.[23] As a councillor for We Wai Kai she was instrumental in helping her community develop a land code and to move out from under theIndian Act. As a result of this work she was appointed as her nation's representative to the national First Nations Lands Advisory Board (LAB), and was subsequently elected from among her peers to sit as a board member for the LAB as well as a member of the finance committee.[24]
As councillor for We Wai Kai Nation, Wilson-Raybould was also central to We Wai Kai developing a financial administration law (establishing a transparency and accountability through regulatory framework for establishing budgets and controlling expenditures), assuming property taxation powers under theFirst Nations Fiscal Management Act[25] and becoming a borrowing member of the First Nations Finance Authority (FNFA). Wilson-Raybould was appointed the We Wai Kai representative to the FNFA. The borrowing members of the FNFA elected Wilson-Raybould as chair in 2013, 2014 and 2015. The FNFA is a not-for-profit that pools the public borrowing requirements of qualifying First Nations and issues bonds on the strength of a central credit. Under Wilson-Raybould, the FNFA issued its inaugural debenture in 2014 in the amount $96 million. This issue was reopened in 2015 adding an additional $50 million.[26]
Wilson-Raybould was first elected regional chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations in 2009. The regional chief is elected by the 203 First Nations in BC.[27] She is credited with bringing the chiefs together, which was reflected in her being re-elected regional chief in November 2012. She won on the first ballot with nearly 80% of the vote.[28]
As regional chief, Wilson-Raybould concentrated on the need for nation building, good governance, and empowering indigenous peoples to take the practical steps necessary to implement theUnited Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to realize the promise of the recognition of aboriginal and treaty rights insection 35 of theConstitution Act, 1982. She focused on reconciliation between First Nations and the province of BC and Canada by advancing 1) the cause of First Nations' strong and appropriate governance, 2) fair access to lands and resources, 3) improved education and 4) individual health. In 2011 and 2012, Wilson-Raybould co-authored theBCAFN Governance Toolkit: A Guide to Nation Building. Part 1 of the Governance Toolkit – The Governance Report, which has been acclaimed as the most comprehensive report of its kind in Canada, setting out what First Nations in BC are doing with respect to transitioning their governance from under the Indian Act to a post-colonial world based on recognition of aboriginal title and rights.[23]
In 2012, Wilson-Raybould and the BCAFN launched Part 2 of the Governance Toolkit – The Governance Self-Assessment and Part 3 – Guide to Community Engagement: Navigating Our Way Beyond the Post-Colonial Door. In 2014, a second edition of The Governance Report was released.[23] In 2015, Wilson-Raybould and the BCAFN released A User's Guide to the BCAFN Governance Toolkit: Supporting Leaders of Change.
Wilson-Raybould held portfolio responsibilities on the Assembly of First Nations national executive for governance and nation building, the Chiefs Committee on Claims (including additions to reserve and specific claims) and chaired the comprehensive claims joint working group. During her first terms as Regional Chief, Wilson-Raybould worked with colleagues, including SenatorGerry St. Germain to introduce Bill S-212, the First Nations Self-Government Recognition Act.[29] This Senate public bill would have provided a mechanism for First Nations to be recognized by the federal government as "self-governing" following the development of an internal constitution and after a community ratification vote on a self-government proposal. The bill died on the order paper.
Wilson-Raybould participated in the 2012 Crown–First Nations Gathering delivering a strong message on the need to resolve First Nations issues including the need for governance reform and moving beyond theIndian Act to support a strong economy.[30] In the wake of theIdle No More protests and despite criticism from some First Nation leaders, Wilson-Raybould participated in high-level talks with then Prime MinisterStephen Harper. She expressed concern that very little progress had been made nationally on First Nations' issues since the 2012 First Nations–Crown Gathering and suggested concrete solutions to these issues.[citation needed] She stated her message very straightforwardly as follows: societies that govern well simply do better economically, socially and politically than those that do not. Good governance increases societies' chances of meeting the needs of their peoples and developing sustainable long-term economic development, and that First Nations are no different.
Wilson-Raybould attributes the lack of progress by the Conservative government during this time as one of her motivations to run for the federal Liberals in the2015 federal election.
Wilson-Raybould has served as a director ofCapilano University.[31] As a former board member for the Minerva Foundation for BC Women (2008–2010), Wilson-Raybould was instrumental in the development of the "Combining Our Strength Initiative"[32] – a partnership of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women. In addition to her duties as director of the Lands Advisory Board and Chair of the First Nations Finance Authority Wilson-Raybould has also been a director of the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre since 2013.[33]
Wilson-Raybould has spoken publicly on such topics as aboriginal law, treaties, the environment, financial transparency, good governance and reconciliation. Prior to federal politics, she made numerous presentations before parliamentary committees including the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, the Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples and theHouse of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples and Northern Development. Wilson-Raybould has travelled extensively to work on Indigenous peoples' rights and leadership issues, including to the Philippines, Taiwan and Israel.
Wilson-Raybould has published four books:From Where I Stand: Rebuilding Indigenous Nations for a Stronger Canada (2019),[34] 'Indian' in the Cabinet (2021),[35] andTrue Reconciliation (2022),[36]Reconciling History: A Story of Canada, (2024).[37]
Wilson-Raybould was the co-chair of the 2014 Biennial Liberal Convention held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She secured the nomination forVancouver Granville on July 31, 2014. Wilson-Raybould was seen to be close to Liberal leaderJustin Trudeau who approached her to run for the Liberals during the 2013 AFN Annual General meeting in Whitehorse.[38] Her areas of core policy concern and competence include: democratic reform, balancing the environment and the economy, Aboriginal affairs and affordable housing.[39] Wilson-Raybould visited the Great Bear Rainforest with Justin Trudeau in 2014.[40]
Following the announcement of the nomination, Chief Isadore Day of theSerpent River First Nation (located in Ontario), alleged that Wilson-Raybould was in conflict of interest by continuing to act as regional chief while holding the Liberal Party nomination. Wilson-Raybould denied that her decision to run gave rise to a conflict. In response to Chief Day's allegation, the BC Assembly of First Nations adopted a unanimous resolution in support of Wilson-Raybould, and expressed full confidence she would be able to continue to perform her duties as regional chief while also serving as a Liberal candidate. Numerous First Nations supporters rallied behind Wilson-Raybould on social media, calling her a figure who could make "changes from the inside" and harshly criticizing Chief Day for meddling in BC affairs. "Chief Isadore Day has time to write letters about B.C., while his own community struggles?" wrote one member of Serpent River First Nation in a Facebook post.[41] Wilson-Raybould said she would take a leave of absence during the campaign and if a conflict did arise before then, she would resign.
Wilson-Raybould stepped down from the position of regional chief in June 2015 in accordance with the transition plan approved in September 2014[42] by consensus of the chiefs following her nomination.
Wilson-Raybould was elected in the October 19, 2015general election, obtaining 43.9% of the vote.[43][44]
Wilson-Raybould began serving asMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada (MOJAG) on November 4, 2015, becoming the first Indigenous person and third woman to hold the office.[45] On November 12, 2015, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave Wilson-Raybould her mandate letter, which asked her to deliver on, among other matters, responding to theSupreme Court of Canada's decision on medical assistance in dying, reviewing the government's litigation strategy, conducting a review of the changes in the criminal justice system and sentencing reforms over the previous decade (including looking to increase the use of restorative justice processes and other initiatives to reduce the rate of incarceration amongst Indigenous Canadians), creating the process to legalize and strictly regulate cannabis, restoring a modern Court Challenges Program, introducing government legislation to add gender identity as a prohibited ground for discrimination under Canadian law, and reforming the Supreme Court of Canada nomination process to ensure that it is transparent, inclusive and accountable to Canadians.[46] In December 2016, along withRalph Goodale, theminister of public safety and emergency preparedness, she submitted the National Security Green Paper, "Our Security, Our Rights: National Security Green Paper, 2016",[47] a consultation paper aimed at informing further public discussion on issues of national security.
During the first six months in office, she introduced major legislation on medical assistance in dying, one of her key mandate letter commitments. In collaboration with her colleague,Minister of HealthJane Philpott, Wilson-Raybould led the effort to pass Bill C-14, which receivedroyal assent on June 17, 2016.[48]
Wilson-Raybould also introduced Bill C-16, which amended theCanadian Human Rights Act to add gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds for discrimination, which was another key mandate letter commitment. The legislation also amended theCriminal Code to extend protections against hate propaganda, and it received royal assent on June 16, 2017.[49]
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Hermandate letter called for a review of the government's litigation strategy to "end appeals or positions inconsistent with the government's commitments, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, or Canadian values".[46] As part of that commitment, on January 11, 2019, she issued the Directive on Civil Litigation Involving Indigenous Peoples.[50][51] The directive guides theGovernment of Canada's legal approaches, positions and decisions taken in civil litigation involving Aboriginal and treaty rights, and the Crown's obligation towards Indigenous peoples. In 2017 she published the first-ever Litigation Year in Review[52] with a subsequent edition in 2018.[53]
In February 2017, Prime Minister Trudeau named Wilson-Raybould chair of the Working Group of Ministers on the Review of Laws and Policies Related to Indigenous Peoples, a Cabinet working group responsible for reviewing federal laws and policies that impact the rights of Indigenous peoples.[54] Through consultation with Indigenous groups and experts, the Working Group adopted Principles respecting the Government of Canada's relationship with Indigenous peoples to guide their work. Those Principles were released on July 14, 2017,[55] and have been the subject of considerable commentary.[56] Wilson-Raybould authored an op-ed on the subject inThe Globe and Mail[57] and devoted a major speech to the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly to the Principles and their importance.[58]
As Minister of Justice, Wilson-Raybould introduced Bill C-45, theCannabis Act on April 13, 2017. After passage by Parliament in June 2018, it enabled the nationwidelegalization of cannabis in October the same year.[59][60][61] The passage of C-45 makes Canada the second country to legalize the recreational use of cannabis.[62] The new law legalizes, strictly regulates and controls access to cannabis and came into force on October 17, 2018.[63]
On April 13, 2017, Wilson-Raybould also introduced Bill C-46, which is the most comprehensive reform to theCriminal Code transportation regime in more than 40 years, including to drug and alcohol-impaired driving. The reforms were said to create a new, modern, simplified, and more coherent system to better deter and detect drug and alcohol-impaired driving. Bill C-46 was notable for bringing forward limits for drug impaired driving, and allowing mandatory roadside alcohol screening. The bill received royal assent in June 2018.[64]
As part of her mandate to "undertake modernization efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system",[46] Wilson-Raybould introduced Bill C-75,[65] a package of law reforms to deal with delays in the criminal justice system. The bill also included other pieces of legislation which had not advanced past first reading in the House of Commons. Those included bills C-28 (Victim Surcharge), C-38 (Human Trafficking), and C-39 (Charter Cleanup). Bill C-75 addresses areas such as bail reform, administration of justice offences, changes to preliminary inquiries, jury selection and reclassification of offences.[66] Bill C-75 included an amendment to end the use ofperemptory challenges. The introduction of the bill came shortly after a controversial decision rendered in the Gerald Stanley trial. Gerald Stanley, a non-indigenous farmer, was acquitted in theshooting death of Colton Boushie, a 22-year-old Cree man, in Battleford, Saskatchewan. The decision was rendered by an all-white jury after the few potential jurors with Indigenous ancestry that reported for jury-duty were eliminated through peremptory challenges. Wilson-Raybould's tweet[67] in response to the verdict sparked significant controversy with claims of undermining the justice system by questioning the jury's verdict, while others supported her empathy, and commitment to ensuring justice for all Canadians.[68] Wilson-Raybould continued to oversee broad reforms and a review of the criminal justice system in Canada.
Wilson-Raybould also introduced Bill C-51, which received royal assent and came into force on December 13, 2018. Bill C-51 was the first update to sexual assault laws in over 25 years. It clarifies the law of sexual assault, and addresses concerns about how the law is applied in practice. In addition, it repealsCriminal Code provisions struck down by Canadian courts and codifies certain Supreme Court jurisprudence. Bill C-51 amended theDepartment of Justice Act to create an obligation for the government to table a Charter Statement for every piece of proposed legislation outlining its impact on the rights protected in theCanadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
In May 2018, Wilson-Raybould introduced Bill C-78, the first major amendments toCanadian family law in over 20 years. She said bill C-78 aims to promote the best interests of the child and make Canada's family justice system more accessible and efficient, while addressing issues such as child poverty, access to justice and family violence.[69] This legislation complements the judicial resources for Unified Family Courts announced in Budget 2018, which is a commitment in the Mandate Letter of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
In her role as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Wilson-Raybould also introduced Bill C-84, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (bestiality and animal fighting) on October 18, 2018.[70] The changes brought forward in this legislation aim to amend Section 160 of the Criminal Code, which adds a definition of bestiality as any contact for sexual purpose between a person and an animal. Bill C-84 also amends Section 445.1(1)(b) and 447 which amend current and existing laws pertaining to animal fighting. The new amendments seek to include the breeding or training of an animal to fight another animal, the building or maintenance of an arena for animal fighting, or the promoting, arranging or receiving money for the fighting of animals as offences under this section of the Criminal Code.[71]
In October 2016, Wilson-Raybould oversaw changes to the process for appointing judges across Canada, with the stated goal of ensuring the process "is transparent and accountable to Canadians, and promotes greater diversity on the bench". For instance, the government introduced changes to the structure and composition of the Judicial Advisory Committees, which are tasked with evaluating candidates who apply to the bench.[72] In addition, the government began collecting and publishing demographic statistics related judicial applicants and appointees.[73] In June 2018, it was reported that the government had been "naming women to the bench at an unprecedented rate".[74] Wilson-Raybould introduced a new process for appointments to theSupreme Court of Canada. The government has taken the position that justices appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada must be functionally bilingual.[75] The first justice appointed under the new process, JusticeMalcolm Rowe from Newfoundland and Labrador, was sworn in on October 31, 2016.[76] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the name of his second appointment to the Supreme Court of Canada, JusticeSheilah Martin from Alberta, on November 29, 2017.[77]
In 2018, Wilson-Raybould ordered an internal and external review of the extradition ofHassan Diab to France. The extradition had occurred under one of her predecessors,Rob Nicholson. Diab's lawyer, Donald Bayne, criticized the internal review, saying the justice department lawyer conducting the internal review was in a conflict of interest because he had played a role in the extradition.[78] Murray Segal, formerattorney general of Ontario, was appointed to conduct the external review. He completed his review after Wilson-Raybould had ended her tenure as attorney general. The review cleared Canadian prosecutors of any wrongdoing, but also made recommendations to improve the extradition process.[79] Bayne called the review a "whitewash".[80]
Wilson-Raybould was also criticized by the lawyer for Glen Assoun, who said she delayed for 18 months in acting on a Justice Department recommendation that he receive a new trial. Her successor,David Lametti, recommended a new trial, which ultimately led to Assoun's release. In addition, the prosecutor, Mark Scott, at Assoun's new trial, referenced what he called the "considerable period of time since the minister's decision has been pending."[81][82]
Upon her move to theDepartment of Veterans Affairs Canada, Wilson-Raybould issued a public statement which outlined her milestones as the former minister of justice and attorney general and stated that an attorney general must be "non-partisan, more transparent in the principles that are the basis of decisions, and, in this respect, always willing to speak truth to power".[83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90]
On January 14, 2019, Trudeau made a cabinet shuffle, assigning Wilson-Raybould the veterans affairs portfolio.[91] The move was seen as a demotion, and initially believed to be related to Wilson-Raybould's positions onIndigenous reconciliation;Don Martin, host ofCTV News Channel'sPower Play called it a 'hit job' and suggested it could be due to her criticism of the pace of reconciliation under the Trudeau government, while the president of theUnion of BC Indian Chiefs, Grand ChiefStewart Phillip called the decision "disappointing and disturbing", saying "[the] removal of these critical and well-respected ministers, during a period of significant conflict and tension, demonstrates Trudeau's lack of resolve to address Canada's deplorable relationship with Indigenous peoples."[92][93][94] In a written statement, Wilson-Raybould said she would not talk about the shuffle, but did talk about her work as minister of justice, about the unique responsibilities of the dual minister of justice and attorney general role in Canadian government, and about the importance of avoiding the appearance of political interference.[95]
She resigned from theTrudeau cabinet on February 12, 2019.[96][97]
On February 8, 2019,The Globe and Mail reported that sources close to the government said that thePrime Minister's Office allegedly had attempted to influence Wilson-Raybould concerning an ongoing prosecution ofSNC-Lavalin while she was Minister of Justice and Attorney General. When asked about the allegations,Justin Trudeau said that the story inThe Globe and Mail was false and that he had never "directed" Wilson-Raybould concerning the case.[98] Wilson-Raybould did not comment on the matter, citingsolicitor-client privilege.[99] She resigned from theTrudeau cabinet on February 12.[96] Trudeau said he did not anticipate her resignation and expressed disappointment over her decision, as it was not reflective of the conversations they had had during their recent meetings. Following Wilson-Raybould's resignation, Trudeau expressed his opinion that his government abided by all rules, did its job properly, and that if anyone within the government – including the former attorney-general – felt otherwise, the responsibility lay with Wilson-Raybould to address these concerns directly to him or theconflict of interest and ethics commissioner.[100] She retainedThomas Albert Cromwell as counsel in order to determine the scope of information she was allowed to share with the public.[101]
Support came from across Canada on social media, with #StandWithJody making 463,000 impressions between the February 14 and 24,[102] while her popular credibility on this issue had reached 73%, according to a February 14 Public Square Research poll.[103]
On February 20, Wilson-Raybould addressed the House of Commons with the hope to "have the opportunity to speak my truth".[104] On February 27, Jody Wilson-Raybould gave extended testimony to the House of Commons justice committee on this matter.[105][106]
On March 25, CTV News reported that relations between Wilson-Raybould and the Prime Minister first began to fray in 2017, when Trudeau disagreed with a recommendation by Wilson-Raybould to appoint the conservative Manitoba judgeGlenn Joyal to the Supreme Court of Canada. The report was based on earlier reporting byThe Canadian Press which relied on "well-placed" anonymous sources.[107] Wilson-Raybould denied to CTV News that there was any conflict over the Supreme Court recommendation. The report suggests the Prime Minister could have had reasons unrelated to the SNC-Lavalin affair for moving Wilson-Raybould out of the Justice portfolio.[108] In his column in theNational Post,Andrew Coyne questioned this conclusion, pointing out that Trudeau had originally claimed Wilson-Raybould would "still be [Attorney-General] today" hadScott Brison not resigned and necessitated a cabinet shuffle.[109]
Conservative MPPeter Kent called the leak a "disgusting act of desperation" and said it could only have come from someone who had or was currently working in the Prime Minister's Office.[110]Paul Wells ofMaclean's also accused the Trudeau government of being the source of the leak. He further suggested the leak was an attempt to damage Wilson-Raybould and as an excuse to remove her from the Liberal caucus in the future.[111] Following publication of details of the judicial appointment process, Wilson-Raybould condemned the leaks and called for an independent investigation.[112] Trudeau initially refused to deny his office was involved in the leaks.[113] The following day, he said his office did not play "any part in leaking".[114]
On March 29, a telephone call, secretly recorded by Wilson-Raybould, between herself andPrivy Council ClerkMichael Wernick, was released wherein Wernick told Wilson-Raybould that Trudeau wanted a deferred prosecution agreement for SNC-Lavalin "one way or another".[115][116] The call accompanied a submission of forty pages supplementing her original testimony, including copies of texts and emails, outlining Wilson-Raybould's view of events.[117][118]
On April 2, 2019, Trudeau expelled Wilson-Raybould from the Liberal caucus in the House of Commons and stripped her of the Liberal Party nomination for the2019 Canadian federal election, referring to her secretly recording her conversation with the Privy Council Clerk as being "unconscionable".[119][120] Opposition party leaders condemned the move, withConservative leader Andrew Scheer saying, "if you tell the truth, there is no room for you in the Liberal Party".[121]New Democratic leaderJagmeet Singh said that Wilson-Raybould tried to "put integrity and what's right for Canadians over what helps the Liberals" and that she "deserved better", andGreen leaderElizabeth May said Wilson-Raybould had shown honour and integrity in her work, and that "the laws weren't broken because she held firm".[122][123]
On August 14, 2019, Mario Dion, theconflict of interest and ethics commissioner, released a report that said Trudeau contravened section 9 of theConflict of Interest Act by improperly pressuring Wilson-Raybould.[124][125][126][127] The report details lobbying efforts by SNC-Lavalin to influence prosecution since at least February 2016, including the lobbying efforts to enactdeferred prosecution agreement (DPA) legislation. The report analyses SNC-Lavalin's interests and finds that the lobbying effort advanced private interests of the company, rather than public interests. The report's analysis section discusses the topics of prosecutorial independence and Shawcross doctrine (dual role of Attorney General) to draw the conclusion that the influence was improper and a violation ofConflict of Interest Act.[124]
Responding to the report, Trudeau said he accepted it and took responsibility but disagreed with its findings.[128][129]Andrew Scheer renewed his calls for aRoyal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigation, while Elizabeth May and Jagmeet Singh reiterated their calls for an inquiry. An RCMP spokesperson declined to confirm or deny whether an investigation is underway, saying that the police force is carefully reviewing the facts and will take "appropriate actions as required".[130]
After the report was made public, Wilson-Raybould released a statement saying it is a vindication of her positions on prosecutorial independence and the role of Attorney General. She stated that the report confirms that she acted appropriately at all times and that the staff of the Prime Minister's Office acted improperly.[131]
Prior to her removal from caucus, Wilson-Raybould had said she would run as the Liberal candidate for Vancouver Granville in the2019 federal election. When she was removed from the caucus, she was also stripped of the Liberal Party nomination.[119] On May 27, Wilson-Raybould announced that she would run for re-election as an Independent candidate.[132][133][134]
On July 24, 2019, it was announced that Wilson-Raybould would be releasing a book about how to move forward with reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.[135][136] The book, titledFrom Where I Stand, was released byUBC Press on September 20.
On October 21, 2019, Wilson-Raybould defeated Liberal candidate Taleeb Noormohamed by 3,177 votes, becoming the first woman to be elected as independent member to Canadian Parliament.[137]
In July 2021, she announced her decision not to run in the 2021 Canadian federal election.[138]
Her memoir, titled 'Indian' in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power, was published September 14, 2021 by HarperCollins Canada, days before the2021 Canadian federal election.[139][140][141]
In 2011, Wilson-Raybould was awarded aMinerva Foundation for BC Women award. In 2012, she received the distinguished alumni award from theUniversity of Victoria. She has also been included inVancouver Magazines "Power 50" (2012 and 2014).[142] In 2015, Wilson-Raybould was selected by the Canadian Board Diversity Council as a Diversity 50 candidate, a list of Canada's most diverse board ready candidates.[143]
On April 6, 2017, Wilson-Raybould received the inaugural Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Indigenous Women in Leadership Award.[144] The 2018 award winner wasRoberta L. Jamieson, the first First Nation woman in Canada to earn a law degree, and the president and CEO ofIndspire.[145]
Wilson-Raybould was featured in Paulina Cameron's 2017 bookCanada 150 Women: Conversations with Leaders, Champions, and Luminaries which profiles the achievements and struggles of ground-breaking female role models.[146]
In 2017, Wilson-Raybould was named Policy-Maker of the Year by theMacdonald-Laurier Institute.[147] She was featured in their December 2017 edition of their magazine 'Inside Policy'.[148]
In 2018, Wilson-Raybould was recognized by Harvard Women's Law Association as one of their 2018 International Women's Day Honourees[149] and provided a keynote address at their annual event.[150]
MADD Canada honoured Wilson-Raybould as the recipient of a 2018 Citizen of Distinction award for her outstanding efforts to strengthen Canada's impaired driving laws, and in particular her contributions to bringing forward Bill C-46. The Citizen of Distinction Award is presented annually to individuals, groups or organizations that have made a major provincial/territorial or national contribution to the anti-impaired driving movement in Canada, leaving a lasting legacy in the areas of research, prevention and education, legal issues or victim issues.[151]
On March 7, 2018, Wilson-Raybould, alongside JudgeSilvia Fernández de Gurmendi, thepresident of theInternational Criminal Court (ICC), unveiled an Inuitinukshuk which had been donated to the ICC by the Government of Canada to mark Canada's support for the ICC. The unveiling took place at the ICC's premises inThe Hague.[152]
Her bookIndian in the Cabinet: Speaking Truth to Power was a nominee for the 2021Balsillie Prize for Public Policy.[153]
On November 29, 2008, she married Tim Raybould (b. 1966), a First Nations consultant, lobbyist and social anthropologist.[154] In her 2021 memoir and in subsequent interviews, Wilson-Raybould shared that she and her husband faced challenges in starting a family due to multiplemiscarriages.[155]
| 2019 Canadian federal election:Vancouver Granville | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Independent | Jody Wilson-Raybould | 17,265 | 32.56 | −11.37 | $97,203.39 | |||
| Liberal | Taleeb Noormohamed | 14,088 | 26.57 | −17.36 | $103,546.83 | |||
| Conservative | Zach Segal | 11,605 | 21.88 | −4.18 | $98,739.59 | |||
| New Democratic | Yvonne Hanson | 6,960 | 13.12 | −13.75 | $28,671.17 | |||
| Green | Louise Boutin | 2,683 | 5.06 | +1.96 | $2,198.84 | |||
| People's | Naomi Chocyk | 431 | 0.81 | – | $917.80 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 53,032 | 100.0 | – | $108,561.11 | ||||
| Total rejected ballots | 264 | 0.49 | +0.15 | |||||
| Turnout | 53,296 | 65.0 | −3.23 | |||||
| Eligible voters | 81,952 | |||||||
| Independentgain from Liberal | Swing | +24.80 | ||||||
| Net change for Wilson-Raybould is in comparison to her 2015 vote percentage. Net change for Noormohamed is in comparison to the 2015 Liberal vote percentage; in other words the same basis as Wilson-Raybould. | ||||||||
| Source:Elections Canada[156][157] | ||||||||
| 2015 Canadian federal election:Vancouver Granville | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Liberal | Jody Wilson-Raybould | 23,643 | 43.93 | +13.83 | $126,252.39 | |||
| New Democratic | Mira Oreck | 14,462 | 26.87 | +2.42 | $165,255.58 | |||
| Conservative | Erinn Broshko | 14,028 | 26.06 | −9.31 | $184,283.40 | |||
| Green | Michael Barkusky | 1,691 | 3.14 | −6.08 | $3,885.32 | |||
| Total valid votes/expense limit | 53,824 | 100.00 | $212,795.60 | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 186 | 0.34 | – | |||||
| Turnout | 54,010 | 68.23 | – | |||||
| Eligible voters | 79,154 | |||||||
| Liberalnotional gain fromConservative | Swing | +11.57 | ||||||
| Source:Elections Canada[158][159][1] | ||||||||
Liberal MP Jody Wilson-Raybould, who won the Vancouver Granville seat, has North Island roots. She is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation (Cape Mudge) of Quadra Island and went to middle (Robb Road) and high school (Highland) in Comox.
Media related toJody Wilson-Raybould at Wikimedia Commons| 29th Ministry – Cabinet ofJustin Trudeau | ||
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| Seamus O'Regan | Minister of Veterans Affairs 2019 | Lawrence MacAulay |
| Peter MacKay | Minister of Justice 2015–2019 | David Lametti |
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