Grenada-born Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Liberal MP for Whitby, has announced she will not seek re-election.
Caesar-Chavannes, a vocal supporter of Jody Wilson-Raybould in the wake of the SNC-Lavalin affair, made the announcement in a statement on Twitter on Saturday afternoon, after what she described as many conversations with family, as well as prayer and reflection.
She said she informed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of her decision on Feb. 12 last —the day that Wilson-Raybould resigned as veterans affairs minister.
Caesar-Chavannes said in her letter, however, that her decision has nothing to do with Wilson-Raybould, who last week told the House of Commons justice committee she faced pressure from the prime minister and his office to interfere in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.
“I have tremendous respect for Ms. Wilson-Raybould and this will never change. Factors influencing this decision started long before February 12,” Caesar-Chavannes stated.
Last week, as Wilson-Raybould gave her testimony on the SNC-Lavalin matter, Caesar-Chavannes tweeted “Truth is power. Proud of you.”
Caesar-Chavannes, who ran a research management consulting firm prior to her election in 2015, served as a parliamentary secretary to both the prime minister and the minister of international development during her term.
Canadians will head to the polls in October.
Celina Caesar-Chavannes says she won’t seek re-election added by The Caribbean Camera Inc. on
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