Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Liberal MP Jane Philpott (L) has resigned from PM Justin Trudeau's cabinet

One of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's top ministers has quit saying she has lost confidence in the government's handling of a corruption inquiry.

Treasury Board President Jane Philpott said: "I must abide by my core values, my ethical responsibilities, constitutional obligations."

Mr Trudeau said he was disappointed by the resignation, but understood it.

He has denied political meddling to shield engineering firm SNC-Lavalin from a bribery trial.

Opposition Conservatives last week called on the Liberal PM to resign.

A number of opinion polls indicate Mr Trudeau's popularity is slipping in the run-up to a general election scheduled for October.

What did Jane Philpott say?

The cabinet minister announced her decision to step down on Monday, posting her resignation letter detailing her "serious concerns" with "evidence of efforts by politicians and/or officials to pressure the former Attorney General to intervene in the criminal case involving SNC-Lavalin".

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Mr Trudeau was heckled at various points as he gave an address, though it is unclear why

"There can be a cost to acting on one's principles, but there is a bigger cost to abandoning them," she said in a statement.

Her letter said it had become "untenable" for her to continue to serve in the cabinet.

"It is a fundamental doctrine of the rule of law that our Attorney General should not be subjected to political pressure or interference regarding the exercise of her prosecutorial discretion in criminal cases," she wrote.

"Sadly, I have lost confidence in how the government has dealt with this matter and in how it has responded to the issues raised."

The former family physician has held key portfolios in Mr Trudeau's cabinet - health, indigenous services and, until this week, treasury board president - since being elected in 2015.

She will remain on as a Liberal member of Parliament.

What about Mr Trudeau's response?

In a short statement, Mr Trudeau thanked Ms Philpott for "her years of service and her dedication to Canadians".

And commenting on the growing political scandal at a rally in Toronto later, the prime minister said: "Concerns of this nature must be taken seriously and I can ensure you that I am."

What is the SNC-Lavalin affair?

Quebec-based SNC-Lavalin is one of the world's largest engineering and construction companies.

The firm and two of its subsidiaries face fraud and corruption charges in connection with about C$48m ($36m; £28m) in bribes it is alleged to have offered to Libyan officials between 2001-11.

The firm has openly lobbied to be allowed to enter into a remediation agreement instead of going to trial, saying it has cleaned house and changed its ways.

SNC-Lavalin says it would be unfair to penalise the company as a whole and its thousands of employees for the wrongdoing of former executives.

The matter is proceeding to trial and the company says it will "vigorously defend itself" against the allegations.

A conviction could result in a decade-long ban on bidding on Canadian federal contracts, which would be a major financial blow to the firm.

Who else has resigned?

This is the third high-profile resignation following accusations Mr Trudeau and some of his top aides tried to shield SNC-Lavalin from a corruption trial.

Former attorney general and justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould resigned suddenly from Cabinet in February.

On 18 February, Mr Trudeau's top aide, Gerald Butts, announced he would quit, denying in a statement that he or anyone on his staff had done anything wrong but saying he had to leave so as not to be a distraction from the team's "vital work".

He is expected to speak on Wednesday before the House of Commons Justice Committee, which is looking into the matter.

What are the political interference claims?

Ms Wilson-Raybould has said she and her staff faced four months of a "sustained" and "inappropriate effort" late last year to push for a possible deferred prosecution agreement for SNC-Lavalin.

That agreement would have allowed the firm to avoid a criminal trial and instead agree to alternative terms or conditions, like penalties or enhanced compliance measures.

The Liberal government brought in the remediation agreement regime in 2018 as part of a massive budget bill following lobbying efforts by the company.

Ms Wilson-Raybould says she resisted that pressure and believes she was shuffled out of the justice portfolio as a consequence.

Mr Trudeau has maintained that any discussions he had with Ms Wilson-Raybould were lawful and appropriate and that his government was concerned that thousands of jobs were at stake if the company went to trial.</s>OTTAWA — Treasury Board president Jane Philpott resigned Monday from the federal cabinet, saying she’s lost confidence in the way the Trudeau government has dealt with the SNC-Lavalin affair.

Her resignation came just less than a month after former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet amid allegations that the Prime Minister’s Office improperly pressured her to stop a criminal prosecution of the Montreal engineering giant.

“A minister must always be prepared to defend other ministers publicly, and must speak in support of the government and its policies,” Philpott said in a resignation letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Given this convention and the current circumstances, it is untenable for me to continue to serve as a cabinet minister.”

Trudeau issued a terse statement accepting Philpott’s resignation and thanking her “for her years of service to Canadians and her dedication.” He named Carla Qualtrough, the minister of public services and procurement, as the acting president of the Treasury Board. He was expected to comment at more length at an event in Toronto on Monday evening.
• John Ivison: By resigning, Jane Philpott teaches Trudeau what doing politics differently really means
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• Kelly McParland: The real Trudeau emerges at last

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said Philpott’s resignation proves he was correct when he asserted last week that Trudeau has “lost the moral authority to govern.”

“Today, a senior member of his inner circle has come to the same conclusion,” said Scheer, repeating his call for Trudeau to resign and for the RCMP to investigate. “Jane Philpott’s resignation from cabinet clearly demonstrates a government in total chaos, led by a disgraced prime minister consumed with scandal and focused only on his political survival.”

Scheer called on other cabinet ministers to follow Philpott’s example or be seen to be part of the “ethical rot that infects this government.”

New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh reiterated his call for a public inquiry into the affair.

Like Wilson-Raybould, Philpott said she intends to remain a Liberal MP — for Markham-Stouffville outside Toronto, in her case. But unlike Wilson-Raybould, she did not say whether she intends to run for re-election as a Liberal this fall, although she has already been nominated. There has been some speculation in Liberal circles that Philpott might run for leader of the Ontario Liberal party.

Philpott’s resignation was not entirely unexpected among Liberals, who knew she and Wilson-Raybould are close friends. Indeed, when Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet, Philpott tweeted a picture of the pair with their arms around each other.

In a tweet praising Philpott’s “constant and unassailable commitment to always doing what is right and best for Canadians,” Wilson-Raybould told her friend: “You are a leader of vision & strength & I look forward to continuing to work alongside you.”

Wilson-Raybould last week delivered bombshell testimony at the House of Commons justice committee, accusing officials of relentlessly pressuring her and even issuing veiled threats to co-operate in helping SNC-Lavalin avoid a criminal prosecution. The company is a pillar of Montreal’s business community and a major player in infrastructure projects both inside and outside Canada.

Trudeau and his officials allegedly leaned on Wilson-Raybould to reverse a decision by the director of public prosecutions to proceed with a criminal trial of SNC-Lavalin on charges of bribery and corruption related to contracts in Libya. Instead, they wanted her to order negotiation of a remediation agreement with the company that would have levied stiff financial penalties but removed the prospect of a criminal conviction that could cripple the company financially and hurt innocent employees, pensioners and suppliers.

Remediation agreements are lawful tools in dealing with corporate corruption. As attorney general, Wilson-Raybould would have been legally entitled to instruct the director of public prosecutions on how to deal with SNC-Lavalin. The controversy hinges on how hard it was acceptable for Trudeau to push her to do so.

While Wilson-Raybould called the pressure tactics inappropriate, she said she did not think they were illegal — a distinction Philpott did not make.

“Unfortunately, the evidence of efforts by politicians and/or officials to pressure the former attorney general to intervene in the criminal case involving SNC-Lavalin, and the evidence as to the content of those efforts have raised serious concerns for me,” Philpott wrote.

“The solemn principles at stake are the independence and integrity of our justice system. It is a fundamental doctrine of the rule of law that our attorney general should not be subjected to political pressure or interference regarding the exercise of her prosecutorial discretion in criminal cases. Sadly, I have lost confidence in how the government has dealt with this matter and in how it has responded to the issues raised.”

The next round of testimony on the affair is to come Wednesday. Trudeau’s longtime friend and former principal secretary Gerald Butts, whom Wilson-Raybould tagged as one of the sources of pressure on her, is scheduled to appear before the justice committee at 10 a.m. ET.

The same afternoon, Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick and deputy minister of justice Nathalie Drouin are to appear. Both testified earlier at the committee but that was before Wilson-Raybould fingered Wernick as the person who allegedly issued veiled threats and suggested Drouin was a witness to some of the pressure tactics.

New Democrat MP Charlie Angus wrote to Trudeau on Monday, arguing that Wernick’s impartiality as the country’s top public servant had been irreparably compromised and demanding his resignation.

Philpott has been widely seen as one of Trudeau’s most capable ministers. As minister of health, she worked with Wilson-Raybould in legalizing medical assistance in dying. As minister of Indigenous services, she oversaw drastic reductions in the number of long-term advisories on water safety on First Nations reserves.

She was moved to Treasury Board in mid-January in the same shuffle that saw Wilson-Raybould moved out of the justice portfolio into veterans affairs. Treasury Board is a less-visible ministry concerned with the nuts and bolts of government operations but the president effectively holds the government’s purse strings, overseeing all federal spending. Philpott took over the post from Scott Brison, who retired from politics.

In Victoria, Border Security Minister Bill Blair said he is “very saddened” by Philpott’s resignation.

“Jane Philpott has done an outstanding job in all of her portfolios and served Canadians exceptionally well,” he said, adding that he’s pleased she intends to remain in the Liberal caucus.

Whether she will is not certain. Trudeau has been pondering whether Wilson-Raybould can stay in caucus and run as a Liberal candidate in this fall’s federal election — a matter on which he said earlier Monday he’s still reflecting. He will now presumably have to add Philpott to his ruminations.

Blair refused to speculate when asked if he thinks more ministers might yet resign. But he reiterated his own support for Trudeau and the government he leads.

“I have great confidence in the team and the leadership of the prime minister.”

But Liberal backbencher Celina Caesar-Chavannes, who announced last week she won’t seek re-election, tweeted her support for Philpott, as she has done repeatedly for Wilson-Raybould since the SNC-Lavalin controversy erupted a month ago.

“When you add women, please do not expect the status quo. Expect us to make correct decisions, stand for what is right and exit when values are compromised. Thank you @janephilpott for articulating this beautifully,” Caesar-Chavannes wrote.

New Brunswick Liberal MP Wayne Long reiterated his call for a “full and transparent investigation” into the SNC-Lavalin affair.

— With files from Dirk Meissner in Victoria

Below is the full text of Philpott’s letter to Trudeau, as she posted it online:

It is an enormous privilege to be the Member of Parliament for Markham-Stouffville and to have served as Minister of Health, then Minister of Indigenous Services, then President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government. It has been an honour to play a leading role in progress that has shaped our country: bringing Syrian refugees to Canada; legislating a balanced approach to Medical Assistance in Dying; negotiating a health accord with new resources for mental health and home care; improving infrastructure for First Nations to provide clean water on reserve; and reforming child welfare to reduce the over-apprehension of Indigenous children.

However, I have been considering the events that have shaken the federal government in recent weeks and after serious reflection, I have concluded that I must resign as a member of Cabinet.

In Canada, the constitutional convention of Cabinet solidarity means, among other things, that ministers are expected to defend all Cabinet decisions. A minister must always be prepared to defend other ministers publicly, and must speak in support of the government and its policies. Given this convention and the current circumstances, it is untenable for me to continue to serve as a Cabinet minister.

Unfortunately, the evidence of efforts by politicians and/or officials to pressure the former Attorney General to intervene in the criminal case involving SNC-Lavalin, and the evidence as to the content of those efforts have raised serious concerns for me. Those concerns have been augmented by the views expressed by my constituents and other Canadians.

The solemn principles at stake are the independence and integrity of our justice system. It is a fundamental doctrine of the rule of law that our Attorney General should not be subjected to political pressure or interference regarding the exercise of her prosecutorial discretion in criminal cases. Sadly, I have lost confidence in how the government has dealt with this matter and in how it has responded to the issues raised.

It grieves me to leave a portfolio where I was at work to deliver on an important mandate. But I must abide by my core values, my ethical responsibilities and constitutional obligations. There can be a cost to acting on one’s principles, but there is a bigger cost to abandoning them.

Although I must regretfully resign from Cabinet, I will continue to serve Canadians in every other way that I can. I was elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Markham-Stouffville and I intend to continue in that role. I am firmly committed to our crucial platform priorities, especially: justice for Indigenous peoples; and implementing a plan to tackle the existential threat of climate change. Canadians need the assurance that, in all matters, Members of Parliament will act in the best interests of the public. My decision has been made with that spirit and intent.</s>Treasury Board President Jane Philpott has resigned from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s cabinet over his handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair.

The Liberal MP for Markham-Stouffville was named to the post of president of the Treasury Board in January 2019 during the same shuffle that removed Jody Wilson-Raybould from the post of attorney general. Her decision marks a stunning blow to the government as it is fighting to pivot from the controversy to promoting its carbon tax promises while the House of Commons is on a two-week break.

READ MORE: Jody Wilson-Raybould’s testimony — read the full transcript of her opening remarks

“I have been considering the events that have shaken the federal government in recent weeks and, after serious reflection, I have concluded that I must resign as a member of cabinet,” she wrote in a letter posted on Twitter moments ago.

Her announcement comes after Philpott faced questions over Trudeau’s handling of the affair on Monday morning and refused to comment.

Philpott said that while she was proud of her own record, the evidence backing allegations of attempted political interference laid out by Wilson-Raybould in her testimony before the House of Commons justice committee last week was too great to ignore.

“The evidence of efforts by politicians and/or officials to pressure the former attorney general to intervene in the criminal case involving SNC-Lavalin and the evidence as to the content of those efforts have raised serious concerns for me,” she wrote. “Those concerns have been augmented by the views expressed by my constituents and other Canadians.”

She continued, adding that the “solemn principles” of judicial independence were at stake in the matter.

“Sadly, I have lost confidence in how the government had dealt with this matter and in how it has responded to the issues raised,” Philpott wrote.

Philpott’s stunning resignation comes just shy of one month after the Globe and Mail first reported that officials within the Prime Minister’s Office had pressured Wilson-Raybould last fall to intervene in the decision of the director of public prosecutions not to offer a remediation agreement to SNC-Lavalin.

It also comes just two days before Trudeau’s former right-hand man, Gerald Butts, is set to testify before the justice committee on the matter.

READ MORE: COMMENTARY — On SNC Lavalin affair, the Liberals have thrown away their credibility

Wilson-Raybould responded to Philpott’s resignation on Twitter, sharing a photo of herself and Philpott outside of the House of Commons, calling her a “leader of vision and strength.”

Liberal MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes, who has been a vocal supporter of Wilson-Raybould since the allegations emerged, also tweeted her support for Philpott’s decision; Caesar-Chavannes announced over the weekend that she will not seek re-election.

Her tweet appeared to reference a frequent refrain by Trudeau when talking about the need to recruit more women to political life: “Add women, change politics.”

“When you add women, please do not expect the status quo,” Caesar-Chavannes wrote. “Expect us to make correct decisions, stand up for what is right and exit when values are compromised. Thank you @janephilpott for articulating this beautifully.”

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said other Liberal cabinet ministers need to look at her resignation and ask themselves tough questions.

“It’s time for every Liberal cabinet minister to ask themselves he same question Jane Philpott did: is this what you got into politics for?” he said in a press conference Monday following the news.

“If not, it’s time for them to stand up and be heard.”

SNC-Lavalin is facing charges of corruption and fraud for allegedly bribing Libyan officials for over a decade.

If convicted, the company faces a 10-year ban on bidding for lucrative federal contracts and has threatened to move its headquarters out of Montreal.

Trudeau initially called the report by the Globe and Mail “false” but has changed his remarks on the matter multiple times in the month since.

READ MORE: What Justin Trudeau has said about the SNC-Lavalin controversy

He has since shifted from denying the report itself to asserting that the government was focused on protecting Canadian jobs and has done that in a way that “respects our institutions.”

Following Wilson-Raybould’s testimony, Trudeau told reporters that while he had not seen the former attorney general’s full remarks, “I completely disagree” with her descriptions of what happened. Trudeau also characterized allegations of political interference as “disagreements in perspective.”

However, her testimony at the justice committee lobbed a political grenade into the heart of the government’s brand that has yet to settle.

READ MORE: Here’s how Wilson-Raybould’s version of the SNC-Lavalin affair differs from Trudeau, Wernick

In her remarks, Wilson-Raybould outlined a “consistent and sustained effort” by 11 individuals, including the prime minister, to pressure her into cutting SNC-Lavalin a deal.

Over the course of four hours, she also described “veiled threats” made by the clerk of the Privy Council, Michael Wernick, who had previously told the committee he pressured her to consider the potential loss of jobs if SNC-Lavalin moved out of Canada but denied that there was anything inappropriate.

WATCH: Wilson-Raybould says Wernick told her Trudeau would get a DPA ‘one way or another’

Wilson-Raybould painted a different description of the meeting, saying Wernick told her that the prime minister was in a “mood.”

“I think he is going to find a way to get it done, one way or another,” she said Wernick told her of Trudeau’s mindset after she had repeatedly made it clear that her mind was made up against offering to cut a deal with the firm.

READ MORE: The key players named in Wilson-Raybould’s bombshell testimony on SNC-Lavalin affair

That meeting on Dec. 19 was the last discussion Wilson-Raybould had on the matter before she was informed on Jan. 7, 2019 that she was being removed from her job.

The news came on the heels of what she described as months of pressure following the decision of the director of public prosecutions in early September 2018 to pursue criminal prosecution against SNC-Lavalin and not to use a newly created legal tool, introduced just months earlier by the Liberals following extensive lobbying on “justice and law enforcement” issues by the firm.

WATCH: Wilson-Raybould reads transcript of remarkable conversation with her chief of staff

By Sept. 17, 2018, Wilson-Raybould said she told Trudeau and Wernick that her mind was made up in a meeting on reconciliation in which Trudeau immediately raised the issue.

Wernick, she said, raised the issue of the Quebec election, which was at that time less than a month away.

Trudeau also raised his status as a member of Parliament for Papineau, a Montreal-area riding.

“I asked, ‘Are you politically interfering with my role, my decision?’” Wilson-Raybould told the committee she said to Trudeau at that time.

Between then and Dec. 19, Wilson-Raybould described an unyielding campaign of pressure targeting her from officials within the PMO.

READ MORE: ANALYSIS — The Trudeau brand takes a hit after Jody Wilson-Raybould testimony

Those included repeated requests to reconsider the matter and the upcoming federal election from two senior advisers to Trudeau, Elder Marques and Mathieu Bouchard, as well as meetings with now-former principal secretary Gerald Butts.

Wilson-Raybould said she told Butts the pressure needed to stop — but it did not.

Wilson-Raybould read out text exchanges between herself and her chief of staff, Jessica Prince, after Prince was summoned to a meeting with Butts and Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff, on Dec. 18, 2018.

She said Prince raised concerns of political interference, to which Butts responded: “Jess, there is no solution here that does not involve some interference.”

Telford was also quoted by Wilson-Raybould as telling Prince that they were “tired of debating legalities” and wanted the matter dealt with.

Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion announced an investigation into the matter last month, but his office has, for days, refused to confirm whether that investigation remains ongoing.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer asked the RCMP to investigate last week, citing potential attempts to obstruct justice and “provoke fear” in the attorney general, both criminal offences.

RCMP has so far been mum on whether it will pursue an investigation.

Under the Conflict of Interest Act, the ethics commissioner must halt any investigation underway if a matter before that office becomes the subject of an investigation by the RCMP.</s>OTTAWA —- Liberal MP Jane Philpott has quit Justin Trudeau's cabinet over the SNC-Lavalin affair.

In a damning resignation letter posted to her website Monday afternoon, Philpott said she could not remain in cabinet because she had lost confidence in the way the government handled the affair.

"I have been considering the events that have shaken the federal government in recent weeks and after serious reflection, I have concluded that I must resign as a member of Cabinet," Philpott wrote.

Canada's constitutional convention of cabinet solidarity means, she wrote, that among other things "ministers are expected to defend all Cabinet decisions. A minister must always be prepared to defend other ministers publicly, and must speak in support of the government and its policies.

"Given this convention and the current circumstances, it is untenable for me to continue to serve as a Cabinet minister.

"Unfortunately, the evidence of efforts by politicians and/or officials to pressure the former Attorney General to intervene in the criminal case involving SNC-Lavalin, and the evidence as to the content of those efforts have raised serious concerns for me."

"It grieves me to resign from a portfolio where I was at work to deliver an important mandate," Philpott wrote in her statement and on Twitter Monday. "I must abide by my core values, my ethical responsibilities, constitutional obligations. There can be a cost to acting on one's principles, but there is a bigger cost to abandoning them."

Philpott was Minister of Digital Government and President of the Treasury Board.

She said her view was bolstered by opinions expressed by constituents and other Canadians.

"The solemn principles at stake are the independence and integrity of our justice system. It is a fundamental doctrine of the rule of law that our Attorney General should not be subjected to political pressure or interference regarding the exercise of her prosecutorial discretion in criminal cases. Sadly, I have lost confidence in how the government has dealt with this matter and in how it has responded to the issues raised."</s>OTTAWA -- Treasury Board president Jane Philpott resigned Monday from the federal cabinet, saying she's lost confidence in the way the Trudeau government has dealt with the SNC-Lavalin affair.

"A minister must always be prepared to defend other ministers publicly, and must speak in support of the government and its policies," she said in a resignation letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "Given this convention and the current circumstances, it is untenable for me to continue to serve as a cabinet minister."

Philpott's resignation comes just less than a month after former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet amid allegations that the Prime Minister's Office improperly pressured her to stop a criminal prosecution of Montreal engineering giant SNC-Lavalin.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer tweeted that the second resignation demonstrates "Justin Trudeau's government is in chaos." He called again for Trudeau to resign and for an RCMP investigation of the affair.

Like Wilson-Raybould, Philpott said she intends to remain a Liberal MP -- for Markham-Stouffville outside Toronto, in her case.

Philpott is good friends with Wilson-Raybould, who delivered bombshell testimony last week accusing officials of relentlessly pressuring her and even issuing veiled threats to try to get her to co-operate in helping SNC-Lavalin avoid a criminal prosecution. The company is a pillar of Montreal's business community and a major player in infrastructure projects both inside and outside Canada.

"Unfortunately, the evidence of efforts by politicians and/or officials to pressure the former attorney general to intervene in the criminal case involving SNC-Lavalin, and the evidence as to the content of those efforts have raised serious concerns for me," Philpott wrote.

"The solemn principles at stake are the independence and integrity of our justice system. It is a fundamental doctrine of the rule of law that our attorney general should not be subjected to political pressure or interference regarding the exercise of her prosecutorial discretion in criminal cases. Sadly, I have lost confidence in how the government has dealt with this matter and in how it has responded to the issues raised."

Philpott has been widely seen as one of Trudeau's most capable ministers. As minister of health, she worked with Wilson-Raybould in legalizing medical assistance in dying. As minister of Indigenous services, she oversaw drastic reductions in the number of long-term advisories on water safety on First Nations reserves.

She was moved to Treasury Board in mid-January in the same shuffle that saw Wilson-Raybould moved out of the justice portfolio into veterans affairs. Treasury Board is a less-visible ministry concerned with the nuts and bolts of government operations but the president effectively holds the government's purse strings, overseeing all federal spending. Philpott took over the post from Scott Brison, who retired from politics.

In Victoria, Border Security Minister Bill Blair said he is "very saddened" by Philpott's resignation.

"Jane Philpott has done an outstanding job in all of her portfolios and served Canadians exceptionally well," he said, adding that he's pleased she intends to remain in the Liberal caucus.

Whether she will is not certain. Trudeau has been pondering whether Wilson-Raybould can stay in caucus and run as a Liberal candidate in this fall's federal election -- a matter on which he said earlier Monday he's still reflecting. He will now presumably have to add Philpott to his ruminations.

Blair refused to speculate when asked if he thinks more ministers might yet resign. But he reiterated his own support for Trudeau and the government he leads.

"I have great confidence in the team and the leadership of the prime minister."

But Liberal backbencher Celina Caesar-Chavannes, who announced last week she won't seek re-election, tweeted her support for Philpott, as she has done repeatedly for Wilson-Raybould since the SNC-Lavalin controversy erupted a month ago.

"When you add women, please do not expect the status quo. Expect us to make correct decisions, stand for what is right and exit when values are compromised. Thank you Γåòjanephilpott for articulating this beautifully," Caesar-Chavannes wrote.</s>Jane Philpott, the Treasury Board president who formerly served as Indigenous services minister and health minister in Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, resigned from cabinet today. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Philpott cited the SNC-Lavalin scandal that she says has “shaken the federal government in recent weeks,” and said it would be “untenable” for her to remain in cabinet. Here’s the full text of her letter.

It is an enormous privilege to be the Member of Parliament for Markham-Stouffville and to have served as Minister of Health, then Minister of Indigenous Services, then President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Digital Government. It has been an honour to play a leading role in progress that has shaped our country: bringing Syrian refugees to Canada; legislating a balanced approach to Medical Assistance in Dying; negotiating a health accord with new resources for mental health and home care; improving infrastructure for First Nations to provide clean water on reserve; and reforming child welfare to reduce the over-apprehension of Indigenous children.

However, I have been considering the events that have shaken the federal government in recent weeks and after serious reflection, I have concluded that I must resign as a member of Cabinet.

In Canada, the constitutional convention of Cabinet solidarity means, among other things, that ministers are expected to defend all Cabinet decisions. A minister must always be prepared to defend other ministers publicly, and must speak in support of the government and its policies. Given this convention and the current circumstances, it is untenable for me to continue to serve as a Cabinet minister.

Unfortunately, the evidence of efforts by politicians and/or officials to pressure the former Attorney General to intervene in the criminal case involving SNC-Lavalin, and the evidence as to the content of those efforts have raised serious concerns for me. Those concerns have been augmented by the views expressed by my constituents and other Canadians.

The solemn principles at stake are the independence and integrity of our justice system. It is a fundamental doctrine of the rule of law that our Attorney General should not be subjected to political pressure or interference regarding the exercise of her prosecutorial discretion in criminal cases. Sadly, I have lost confidence in how the government has dealt with this matter and in how it has responded to the issues raised.

It grieves me to leave a portfolio where I was at work to deliver on an important mandate. But I must abide by my core values, my ethical responsibilities and constitutional obligations. There can be a cost to acting on one’s principles, but there is a bigger cost to abandoning them.

Although I must regretfully resign from Cabinet, I will continue to serve Canadians in every other way that I can. I was elected as a Liberal Member of Parliament for Markham-Stouffville and I intend to continue in that role. I am firmly committed to our crucial platform priorities, especially: justice for Indigenous peoples; and implementing a plan to tackle the existential threat of climate change. Canadians need the assurance that, in all matters, Members of Parliament will act in the best interests of the public. My decision has been made with that spirit and intent.

The Honourable Jane Philpott MD PC MP

 Member of Parliament for Markham-Stouffville
• Moving the goalposts and lowering the bar
• How a core member of Team Trudeau became the PM’s greatest threat
• Sorry Beijing, the SNC-Lavalin affair is not your ace card in the Meng case</s>Treasury Board president writes in open letter she’s leaving because of SNC-Lavalin affair fallout

Treasury Board president Jane Philpott has resigned from the federal cabinet, saying she’s lost confidence in the way the Trudeau government has dealt with the SNC-Lavalin affair.

Philpott’s resignation comes just less than a month after former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet amid allegations that the Prime Minister’s Office had improperly pressured her to stop a criminal prosecution of Montreal engineering giant SNC-Lavalin.

READ MORE: Scheer calls on Trudeau to resign over SNC-Lavalin affair

Philpott is good friends with Wilson-Raybould, who delivered bombshell testimony last week accusing officials of relentlessly pressuring her and even issuing veiled threats to try to get her to co-operate.

Philpott says she has serious concerns about evidence of inappropriate interference in the attorney general’s prosecutorial discretion in criminal cases.

Moreover, she says the principle of cabinet solidarity requires all ministers to speak in support of the government and its policies at all times — a requirement she now finds “untenable.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau named Philpott to Treasury Board in mid-January, after Scott Brison left the post and retired from politics.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter</s>A scheduled visit by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Regina has been cancelled.

Eleanore Catenaro, a spokeswoman for Trudeau, confirmed to The Canadian Press this morning that the prime minister is going to return to Ottawa for private meetings, amid escalating controversy over the SNC-Lavalin affair.

READ MORE: Most Canadians side with Wilson-Raybould, believe Trudeau has lost moral authority to govern — Ipsos poll

Trudeau was scheduled to appear at a Canadian Tire store to speak about climate incentive rebates.

He was also to deliver remarks at a Liberal Party of Canada fundraiser this evening.

His cancellation comes one day after Treasury Board president Jane Philpott resigned from cabinet amidst accusations of political interference in the SNC-Lavalin affair.

WATCH BELOW: Jane Philpott resigns from Trudeau’s cabinet over SNC-Lavalin affair fallout

It also comes one day before Gerald Butts, Trudeau’s former principal secretary and right-hand man, is set to testify on the controversy before the House of Commons justice committee along with Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick and Nathalie Drouin, deputy attorney general.

On Monday night, Trudeau would not take questions from reporters on the stunning resignation of Philpott.

READ MORE: ‘I have lost confidence’: Jane Philpott resigns from cabinet over Trudeau’s handling of SNC-Lavalin affair

Instead, he addressed the resignation in brief remarks during a climate change rally in Toronto, then moved on.

Trudeau said he had known Philpott had serious concerns about the handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair “for some time.”

WATCH BELOW: Trudeau disappointed by Jane Philpott resignation, interrupted by heckler at rally

“In a democracy like ours and in a space where we value our diversity so strongly, we’re allowed to have disagreements and debate. We even encourage it. This matter has generated an important discussion. How democratic institutions, specifically the federal ministry and the staff and officials that support it, conduct themselves is critical and core to all of our principles,” Trudeau said.

Philpott in her resignation letter on Monday said she no longer had confidence in the government over its handling of the allegations of attempted political interference first published by the Globe and Mail last month and corroborated by former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould in four hours of explosive testimony before the justice committee last week.

Reading out text and email exchanges, as well as copious notes, she described a four month campaign of “consistent and sustained efforts” to pressure her into intervening in the decision of the director of public prosecutions not to offer SNC-Lavalin a remediation deal to avoid criminal trial and potential conviction.

A conviction would have led to the Montreal engineering firm being blacklisted from lucrative federal contracts for 10 years.</s>Jane Philpott, one of Justin Trudeau's most trusted ministers, announced she has resigned from cabinet as the Liberal government's crisis over the SNC-Lavalin affair deepens. Philpott's resignation from her role as Treasury Board president comes less than a week after the riveting testimony from Jody Wilson-Raybould in front of the parliamentary justice committee.

Jane Philpott, one of Justin Trudeau's most trusted ministers, announced she has resigned from cabinet as the Liberal government's crisis over the SNC-Lavalin affair deepens. Philpott's resignation from her role as Treasury Board president comes less than a week after the riveting testimony from Jody Wilson-Raybould in front of the parliamentary justice committee. 3:42</s>Jane Philpott resigned the position this morning over government's handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair

Delta MP and Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility Carla Qualtrough speaks in the House of Commons. (CPAC screenshot)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced earlier today that Delta MP Carla Qualtrough will be taking over as the interim president of the Treasury Board of Canada.

Qualtrough, who is serving her first term as a member of parliament after being elected on Oct. 19, 2015, is currently the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility. The minister’s office confirmed she will retain that portfolio in addition to her new duties. Qualtrough was previously Minister Sport and Persons with Disabilities from Nov. 4, 2015 until Aug. 28, 2017, when she took over her current position. (Accessibility was added to the portfolio in July of last year.)

The move comes after Jane Philpott, who represents Markham-Stouffville in the House of Commons, quit her cabinet position Monday morning, saying she’s lost confidence in the way the Trudeau government has dealt with the SNC-Lavalin affair.

“I have been considering the events that have shaken the federal government in recent weeks and after serious reflection, I have concluded that I must resign as a member of cabinet,” Philpott wrote in her letter to the Prime Minister.

“In Canada, the constitutional convention of cabinet solidarity means, among other things, that ministers are expected to defend all cabinet decisions. A minister must always be prepared to defend other ministers publicly, and must speak in support of the government and its policies. Given this convention and the current circumstances, it is untenable for me to continue to serve as a cabinet minister.”

In a press release, the PMO said Trudeau accepted Philpott’s resignation and thanked her for her work.

Qualtrough’s staff said in an email to the Reporter that the minister will not be making a statement until this evening, and it will be made via Twitter.

— with files from The Canadian Press

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Canadian Treasury Board President Jane Philpott resigns having lost confidence in the government's handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair.