Green Party leader says she respects Wilson-Raybould and Philpott needing time to reflect, consider

'They know I'd love to have them join the Green Party,' said Elizabeth May

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – Now that former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould and former cabinet minister Jane Philpott have been kicked out of the Liberal caucus, could they be considering going Green?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau removed both MPs from caucus on Tuesday.

Wilson-Raybould, who is the MP for Vancouver-Granville, stepped down from Trudeau’s cabinet in February after he shuffled her out of the coveted justice portfolio.

Philpott followed suit three weeks later, surrendering her role as Indigenous services minister over what she called a lack of confidence in how the Prime Minister’s Office had handled the SNC-Lavalin controversy.

Green Party leader Elizabeth May says she is friends with both women — but asked if she’s had any discussions with Wilson-Raybould or Philpott about their political futures, May said she hasn’t.

“They know I’d love to have them join the Green Party,” she added. “But I’m not pressuring anyone. We haven’t had any time, nor would I press for talking about the idea of their political future with them right now. They’ve both made it clear they need time to reflect and consider. I respect that.”

Philpott and Wilson-Raybould are now independent MPs are are considering their futures, but have not ruled out running again in the fall election.