Gerald Butts

2015 Canadian election and premiership of Justin Trudeau If the Liberals were to win the 2015 election, Gerald Butts could become one of the most powerful people in Canada. Lee Berthiaume and one of the few people with whom Trudeau consulted regularly. These expenses included a personalized cash payout of $20,799.10. After it was revealed publicly, Butts agreed to repay $41,618.62.

On February 18, 2019, Butts stepped down as Trudeau's principal secretary and stated that it was to defend himself from allegations made against him in relation to the SNC-Lavalin affair and to avoid drawing attention away from the prime minister's work. At the time of Butts' resignation, Trudeau had responded by thanking him for his service, while acknowledging the integrity, guidance, and devotion that Butts had provided him. In July 2019, Prime Minister Trudeau hired Butts back to play a key role in the Liberal 2019 election campaign.

Between January 2017 and February 2024, Butts' Eurasia Group received over $1.5 million in contracts from the Government of Canada for consulting and geopolitical research.

Since 2025, Butts has served as an informal advisor to Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Personal life Butts is the nephew of the former Canadian senator Mary Alice "Peggy" Butts, whom he cites as a major influence on him.

He is married to Jodi (Heimpel) Butts, a lawyer, and they have two children, Aidan Ignatius (born May 6, 2006) They resided in Toronto for 13 years until the family relocated in the summer of 2016 to Ottawa. Butts currently resides at Champlain Park area of Westboro, Ottawa.