A couple of weeks ago, in the earlier stages of the SNC-Lavalin scandal breaking, Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield spoke with GuelphToday about the possibility of an investigation into an allegation former attorney general was pressured by the Prime Minister’s Office to help SNC-Lavalin avoid prosecution.
In what seems to have been an effort to get in front of the story, he did nothing but display an alarming lack of leadership.
As outlined in the article, New Brunswick Liberal MP Wayne Long had previously stated that he was extremely troubled when the allegation surfaced last week and nothing he had heard since made him feel less unsettled. In that, he stated he supported an opposition motion to call for an inquiry.
Given the serious allegations around the SNC-Lavalin scandal, this is an appropriate and respectable response, regardless of party lines. When it comes to something as serious as this, transparency and ethics should come before hyper-party loyalty.
But what Guelph’s MP believes in is a far-cry from a representative who advocates for transparent and ethical – or even lawful – behaviour.
When asked about his Liberal colleague’s statement, Mr. Longfield was quoted in the article stating that he does not think Wayne, as a backbencher, is in a position to support an investigation.
Contrary to Mr. Longfield’s belief, that is actually exactly what a backbencher is supposed to do.
Days later, he stood proudly in the House of Commons to vote against a motion calling on the PM to waive solicitor-client privilege so that Jody Wilson-Raybould can speak freely on SNC-Lavalin and call for the government to launch a public inquiry into the allegations.
This government – and Mr. Longfield himself – campaigned on “sunny ways” and transparency. I won’t hold my breath.
Guelph deserves a representative with the leadership to stand up for what’s right, even if they are “just a backbencher”.
Opinion | Submitted: March 3, 2019
