Justin Trudeau and Gerald Butts go back a long way. Susan Delacourt reviews their history:
He and Butts met at McGill University when they were both studying English literature and on the debating team. Their friendship endured after university, even as Trudeau moved to B.C. to teach and Butts went on to work in politics — first, briefly, as an aide in the Jean Chretien years, and then on to Queen’s Park, to serve as senior adviser to premier Dalton McGuinty.
It’s there that Butts met Telford, then a chief adviser to then education minister Gerard Kennedy. Trudeau surprised some people by supporting Kennedy in the 2006 federal Liberal leadership — not the people who knew of his friendship to Butts, and through him, then to Telford.
By 2012, when he was working at the head of the World Wildlife Fund in Canada, Butts was helping his friend get into the Liberal leadership race and amassing the team around him. Butts has a huge network of friends in politics. One of his early mentors was James Coutts, the man who served as principal secretary to Trudeau’s father, Pierre Trudeau. Just a few months ago, Butts was one of the keynote speakers at an event to donate Coutts’ diaries to Trinity College at the University of Toronto.
Traditionalists in the Liberal party — indeed in Canadian politics — often balked at Butts’ large public profile while serving with Trudeau. While the prime minister himself grew more cautious in public life, speaking increasingly through careful statements and behind talking points, Butts was very much a personality on social media, sparring with critics of the government, often impolitically.
Two speculative conclusions arose: either Butts was saying what the PM couldn’t, or worse, that Butts was the real voice behind the power at the centre. Neither is likely correct: it’s probably more accurate to say that the two spoke — and thought — in tandem.
One member of the tag team has left. It's hard to say what the consequences will be. But don't expect Butts to go quietly into the night.
Image: The Toronto Star
6 comments:
If this resignation is intended as damage control, Owen, I doubt it will work. It merely adds fire to the flames of speculation about this whole affair.
I agree, Lorne. I doubt that Butt's resignation will put a lid on anything.
.. I've speculated that Gerald Butts is also an obvious witness to be subpoena'd by Ms Marie Henein re the ex Commander Norman criminal trial. As is anyone in The Privy Council or PMO or indeed Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister himself & most certainly ms Telford. Scott Brison a certainty.. as Ms Henein is outraged that he has not been requested to examin, secure and supply all docs of any kind relative to Norman or the two shipyards.. Davie - Montreal and Irving in New Brunswick. Certainly ms Wilson-Reybould is a certainty and presumably ms Rousell Director of Prosecutions.. oops.. and suddenly the Lavalin Affair, Scandal, criminal trial, fooforaw, fandangle and Norman cases and main players are side by each ..
Presuming Butts and Trudeau cannot talk, text, email, dine, have a cocktail.. exchange views or strategy.. or defense.. is laughable.. of course they can and will, without a hiccup.. and without legalities, intrusion or political posturing or niceties..
Meanwhile the bombastic bedlam of MainMedia is firing all portside cannons.. loaded with speculation, hearsay, anonymous 'insiders' and devious innuendo of 'well placed insiders' Deary me - ms Denise Batters claims she has seen wind.. the sky is falling 'chaos' claims she ! Andrew Scheer shrieks 'there may be some criminality !' The unfortunate retail membership champ of the lost planet NDP claimed live to air during a PowerPlay interview from Burnaby last night at 5:40 re the Butts end of world resignation & denial of any wrongdoing, that 'so Trudeau fired her' while he was speaking re Ms Wilson-Reybould.. No objection, correction, no comment from the CTV interviewer. Presumably any NDP watching were duly shocked to learn this new factoid from their trying to keep up 'leader'
The fiercest shot so far belongs to ms Marie Henein and the criminal court judge during preliminary stages of the Norman case. That jusge in an open court said something to the effect that 'it seems evident there has been some level of collusion with the PMO, the Privy Council and rhe Prosecution Office.. uh oh - guess who that drags in from the Lavalin square dance - oh just everyone... ...
When there's blood in the water, sal, the sharks circle, waiting for the optimum moment.
If Butts did nothing wrong why would a highly-principled prime minister such as Justin accept his resignation? Surely Justin wouldn't let Gerry become his human sacrifice, would he?
Politics is a blood sport, Mound. Something tells me that this case will result in a fair amount of blood letting.
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