By Armchair Mayor

ROTHENBURGER: Everybody should be happy with Wilson-Raybould firing

Apr 3, 2019 | 7:30 AM

KAMLOOPS — NO MATTER WHAT YOUR POLITICS, you’ve got to be pleased Justin Trudeau booted Jody Wilson-Raybould out of the Liberal caucus.

If you’re a Liberal supporter, you’re happy the person who has been doing so much damage to the party and the prime minister is gone.

If you’re a Conservative or New Democrat, you’re happy to get more mileage out of this never-ending drama.

It’s a win-win.

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But, really, what else could Trudeau do after Wilson-Raybould released an audio tape of a phone conversation she had with then-Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick. Though it revealed little new, the tape demonstrated a stupendous lack of propriety on Wilson-Raybould’s part.

How could she possibly think she could remain in the Liberal caucus after a stunt like that? The amazing thing isn’t that Trudeau punted her from the party, it’s that it took him so long. He stood by for weeks as she tore apart his political reputation and drove down the party’s chances in the upcoming federal election.

The tape was the last straw. The situation has nothing to do with the fact she’s a woman, nothing to do with her being an indigenous woman. This is about politics and elections.

What’s less clear is why Jane Philpott got ejected along with Wilson-Raybould. While her resignation from cabinet and solidarity with Wilson-Raybould certainly has brought into question her loyalty to party and leader, her offences — if that’s the right term — were minor compared to Wilson-Raybould’s.

Neither will have to sit in the back row as independents for long. Both the Conservatives and NDP have probably been on the phone already offering them new homes.

In recent weeks they’ve become the de facto opposition to the Liberals. Now they can make it official.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.