The Battle for the Bruce

07/23/2019

Wilson-Raybould only formally issued this new policy on January 11, 2019, three days before she was shuffled out of her portfolio. The Practice Directive had, however, been in effect for two years prior to this announcement. The secret operation of an instrument of such profound change makes a mockery of the current federal government's promise to openness and honesty. It also casts doubt on Wilson-Raybould's now-legendary integrity: she chose to make the Practice Directive public with no external discussion and formalized it on the eve of her departure. In signing it after she knew she was leaving, she could also be accused of attempting to tie the hands of her successor - in essence what she complained others were doing to her when she denied SNC-Lavalin the Deferred Prosecution Agreement it so urgently wanted.