'I will continue tospeak up and speak out:' Jody Wilson-Raybould on political life after the Liberals

On Monday, Vancouver-Granville MP Jody Wilson-Raybouldannounced she will run in the fall federal election as an independent candidate.

The decision comes afterher removal from the Liberal caucus by Prime Minister Justin Trudeauin the fallout from the SNC-Lavalin affair.

The former justice minister and attorney general spoke with CBC's The Early Edition host Stephen Quinn about life after the Liberals, and what she hopes to accomplish as an independent MP.

What can you actually accomplish in Ottawa if you can beat the odds and win your seat in Vancouver-Granville as an independent?

I'm going to continue to work hard after the election to look at the way politics and decision-making happens in Ottawa. We have major issues and I think an independent voice free from any partisan considerations is something the country is moving toward and something I embrace.

But are independent voices actually heard in the House of Commons?

I have had opportunity to speak in the House of Commons after becoming an independent. I've had the opportunity to work across party lines and engage with members of Parliament of all political stripes on issues coming before the House of Commons.

I am confidentI will continue tospeak up and speak out on issues that are important from climate changeto democratic reformto Indigenous issues.

You singled out the Green Party as anatural ally and the party leader Elizabeth May saidshe waswilling to step aside and let you lead the party. Did you seriously consider that offer?

I know myself and I feel that running as an independent is the right choice. I want to continue to work withthe Green Party with all parties to ensure we find the best solutions toissues that we're facing and that thosesolutions aren't necessarily confined toone partisan box.

Would you be where you are now without the Liberal Party and without the high-profile positionsyou occupied in that party?

I never expected to be in the situationI'm in.I was removed from the Liberal caucus by one person and had to go through a number of months to consider what my options are, and I do believe that my experience in federal politics is not over.

When you made the decision to go public with your concerns about how the SNC-Lavalinaffair was being handled,did you not anticipate consequences?

I didn't make the decision to go public. It was something that was in the Globe and Mail newspaper in February and I responded to an inordinate amount of media attention, comments made by individuals in the Liberal Party and in the Prime Minister's Office.

I feel very comfortable with what Iprovided on the SNC matter. I feel comfortable with the position and the approach that I took as the attorney general in ensuring that I upheld the independence of the public prosecutor.

Do you question any of your former party's positionto purchase and expand the Trans Mountainpipeline?

This is an issue ofconcern to the people in Vancouver-Granville and throughout the Lower Mainland, as it should be. We have to ensure we hold the government accountable around actually recognizing the jurisdiction and rights of Indigenous peoples and setting a framework where any project in the territory recognizes those rights.

I don't think that we've done or that the government has done enough.

Now that you are free to speak, are you in favour of tripling the capacity of that pipeline?

I was a part of a government that made the decision and, as I said, there are some issues that need to create a coherent approach to make the Trans Mountain pipeline viable. This is a discussion that I am going to continue to have with my constituents.

We need an approach that looks to building economic prosperity, recognizes Indigenous rights and transitions in real ways toward a green economy. I don't think we have been able to tick off all those boxes.

This interview aired onThe Early Editionon May 28 andhas been edited for clarity and structure.