Office space debate: Vandal waits for Wilson-Raybould to vacate

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This article was published 12/12/2019 (1595 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — Winnipeg’s new cabinet minister is keeping cordial, as his Liberal colleagues attempt to boot their most prominent outcast from the office they set aside for Dan Vandal.

Jody Wilson-Raybould wants to hold on to the sprawling office suite overlooking the Ottawa River she’s held since 2018, when she was justice minister. She was re-elected as an independent MP in October, after the Liberals removed her from caucus in the wake of the SNC-Lavalin affair.

The Liberals have slated Vandal to take the space as the new northern affairs minister, a role that will likely entail numerous visitors from across the Arctic.

But, as first reported by CBC News, Wilson-Raybould intends to hold onto the office, saying it was “a bit petty” to try removing her.

A longstanding House of Commons procedure assigns offices to parties based seat share after each election, though Wilson-Raybould says she’s had “mixed messages” from House staff.

House Speaker Anthony Rota said Friday he might have to evict Wilson-Raybould, though she says his office only gave her a list of options a day prior.

“There is a domino effect in office allocations, and, as the process is ongoing, some MPs are still waiting for their move,” wrote Rota’s spokeswoman, Heather Bradley.

Rota told media Vandal “has the right to go in, because it’s been chosen as his office.”

For many, having an office in the Confederation Building is second only to the adjacent West Block, which holds the new Commons chamber and very few MP offices.

As the elected government, the Liberals get first dibs over offices in the precinct.

The other four parties get the scraps, in order of their seat share, followed by procedural staff and independent MPs (such as Wilson-Raybould).

Vandal declined an interview on the matter, and reluctantly spoke to it during an unrelated announcement.

“It’s really not my issue to cast judgement on,” the Saint Boniface—Saint Vital MP told reporters Friday. “I’m just waiting for an office. I’m not involved in the dispute.”

Wilson-Raybould has asked House administration to split the office, which has two parts: a small room, a boardroom and private washroom; and another door that leads to three offices. That’s a non-starter for House staff trying to squeeze in even more ministers and staff than the last Parliament.

As of Friday afternoon, a card with Wilson-Raybould’s name and a British Columbia flag adorned the office door (she is the MP for Vancouver Granville). Last week, she enlisted a prominent Algonquin elder to smudge the office, who prayed she could retain the space.

Vandal, who is Métis, had no comment on her approach.

“I’m not sure if it’s the first time, second time, third time that it’s been blessed,” he said. “We’re hiring staff; we need an office. We have work to do.”

On Friday, Wilson-Raybould said she’s had discussions with House officials since Dec. 5, and only received a list of options Thursday.

“I was trying to get clarity — given there are no written rules and given the mixed messages I was receiving,” she wrote in an email to the Free Press.

“It is curious to me how this has become a story,” she wrote, calling the issue “a distraction” from policy and constituency issues.

Wilson-Raybould insists the space is an MP office, though House administration classifies it as a ministerial suite.

Proximity to the chamber is a key way for parties reward loyalty — especially as Centre Block renovations create a space crunch on the Hill.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca