OTTAWA—Liberal MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes fell silent Thursday after publicly challenging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership style without providing context or explanation.

Caesar-Chavannes made the statement on Twitter shortly after Trudeau’s much-anticipated news conference about the ongoing SNC-Lavalin controversy, which has rocked his government over the past month.

She began by quoting Trudeau, who said in his opening statement that “central to my leadership is fostering an environment where my ministers, caucus and staff feel comfortable coming to me when they have concerns.”

Caesar-Chavannes then wrote, “I did come to you recently. Twice. Remember your reactions?”

The backbench rookie MP for Whitby did not respond to emails and voice messages from the Star asking her to explain her statement, while users on Twitter peppered her with demands to elaborate.

Read more:

How Justin Trudeau might avoid another SNC-Lavalin scandal

Liberal MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes says she will not be seeking re-election

Jane Philpott resigns from Trudeau cabinet over SNC-Lavalin affair

Trudeau spokesperson Matt Pascuzzo declined to discuss details of any meetings Trudeau has had with Caesar-Chavannes.

“We won’t comment on private meetings between MPs and the PM,” Pascuzzo said by email.

Caesar-Chavannes’s questioning of Trudeau’s leadership style followed social media posts in which she expressed support for Jane Philpott and Jody Wilson-Raybould, who resigned from cabinet amid allegations that Trudeau and his staff inappropriately pressured Wilson-Raybould in her role as attorney general to halt a criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.

On Feb. 11, shortly after the Globe and Mail first reported the allegations involving Wilson-Raybould, Caesar-Chavannes wrote on Twitter that the former attorney general—who was shuffled out of the job in January before resigning from cabinet—is “ fierce, smart and unapologetic.”

She added, “When women speak up and out, they are always going to be labelled. Go ahead. Label away. We are not going anywhere. #IAmWithHer”

When Philpott resigned this week as Treasury Board president, saying allegations of political interference in the SNC prosecution made her lose confidence in the Liberal cabinet, Caesar-Chavannes echoed her support for Wilson-Raybould.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

“When you add women, please do not expect the status quo,” she wrote on Twitter. “Expect us to make correct decisions, stand for what is right and exit when values are compromised. Thank you @janephilpott for articulating this beautifully.”

On March 2, Caesar-Chavannes announced she will not run in this fall’s federal election. She said she told Trudeau of her decision on Feb. 12, but that the move had nothing to do with the “situation or testimony” of Wilson-Raybould.

Like Wilson-Raybould and Philpott, Caesar-Chavannes remains in the Liberal caucus.

Read more about: