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Why did Jody Wilson-Raybould resign from Justin Trudeau’s cabinet?

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Jody Wilson-Raybould resigned from Justin Trudeau’s cabinet on February 12, 2019, following a political scandal known as the SNC-Lavalin affair.

Wilson-Raybould, who served as attorney general and justice minister, testified that she faced a "consistent and sustained effort" from members of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Privy Council Office, and the finance minister’s office to pressure her into intervening in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin. Specifically, she was urged to help the company secure a deferred prosecution agreement to avoid a potential ban on government contracts. Wilson-Raybould reported receiving "veiled threats" regarding the matter and was subsequently reassigned as veterans affairs minister in a January 2019 cabinet reshuffle, which was widely viewed as a consequence of her refusal to intercede.12

A subsequent report by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner confirmed that Trudeau and his staff had improperly pressured her, violating federal conflict of interest laws.12