Philpott Resignation

              With the resignation of his second cabinet minister in three weeks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has dropped his steadfast insistence that his government has done nothing wrong in the S-N-C-Lavalin affair. Treasury Board president Jane Philpott handed in her resignation yesterday, citing a loss of confidence in the way the government has dealt with criminal charges against the Montreal engineering firm. Her resignation came after her friend, former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould, quit cabinet amid allegations the Prime Minister’s Office improperly pressured her to stop a criminal prosecution of S-N-C-Lavalin. At a rally last night in Toronto, Trudeau said the affair has “generated an important discussion.” He also thanked Philpott for her service and accomplishments, but added that he wasn’t surprised by her resignation.