Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has said that his former campaign co-chair Dan Gagnier’s letter pushing for the Energy East pipeline to be built was “inappropriate,” and that Gagnier has decided to step down from Trudeau’s team for the “long-term future.”
Yesterday it was revealed that Gagnier has sent a detailed letter to five TransCanada Corp. executives behind the Energy East pipeline, outlining how they could best lobby a government (including a Liberal government) to have the pipeline approved.
Yesterday afternoon, Gagnier resigned from the campaign, saying he didn’t want to be a distraction.
“I deeply regret that the campaign has been affected by these negative, personal attacks,” Gagnier’s statement reads. “I have always conducted my business openly and in full accordance with the rules. In the best interests of the party, I have taken this decision. I continue to support Justin Trudeau and hope for a Liberal government on Oct. 19.”