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Unnamed Liberal party insiders have made matters worse by assigning various character flaws to Wilson-Raybould. At best, they tend to fall in the category of generalizations typically thrown at strong women by the old boys’ club.

Photo by Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS

We need an independent inquiry. The Ethics Commissioner is not the right place to seek such an inquiry; neither is the justice committee. We need an RCMP investigation reporting to an independent-minded and respected commissioner. And it should not, nor need not, take long.

We need to know whether pressure was brought to bear on our former minister of justice to go easy on SNC-Lavalin. And, if there was pressure, we need to know who applied it and if it rose to the level of criminal obstruction of justice.

These are questions that cannot be swept under the rug. We must, as Canadians, have faith in our institutions. The prime minister must take responsibility for whatever occurred. His first step is to waive, on behalf of the government of Canada, solicitor-client privilege so that his former minister can speak.

Jody Wilson Raybould’s Kwak’wala name – in her own tradition – is Puglaas. It means something approaching “woman born to noble people.” Her people, and many others, feel pride in her and her accomplishments. Our prime minister should let her speak.

Elizabeth May is leader of the Green Party of Canada and Member of Parliament for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

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