Watchdog to investigate SNC-Lavalin affair, adds to heat on PM

OTTAWA— Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to distance himself from allegations of improper pressure on former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, telling reporters she “confirmed” privately to him in the last two days that he told her last fall the decision on whether to negotiate a deal for SNC-Lavalin on corruption charges was “hers alone.”

But word the federal ethics commissioner was launching a probe into the affair heightened pressure on the prime minister Monday, who said he continues to have “full confidence in Jody.”

Ethics commissioner Mario Dion has confirmed his probe into the explosive allegation reported last week that senior PMO officials pressured Wilson Raybould to cut a sweetheart deal for the Quebec company facing bribery and fraud charges.

Opposition MPs charge that Wilson-Raybould was bumped from the justice post in January because she resisted that pressure.

In a letter to two NDP MPs, Dion wrote he has “reason to believe” a possible contravention of section 9 of the Conflict of Interest Act has occurred. That section prohibits a public office holder from seeking to influence a decision of another person to improperly further another person’s private interests.

Trudeau said he “welcomed” the inquiry, and signalled his office would co-operate.

He said he has met with Wilson-Raybould twice since Sunday, and said she told him she felt solicitor-client privilege prevented her from speaking publicly to allegations published first in the Globe and Mail Thursday.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer — who has called on the government to waive privilege to allow Wilson-Raybould to publicly address the allegations — pressed Trudeau again on that front Monday.

Trudeau said that he has asked Justice Minister David Lametti to look into the “complicated” question of whether the government can or should waive the solicitorclient privilege that surrounds PMO discussions with Wilson Raybould, who as attorney general was the government’s top legal adviser on the SNC-Lavalin file.

In an Oct. 9, 2018 letter, Kathleen Roussel, the director of public prosecutions, refused SNC Lavalin’s request that her office issue “an invitation to negotiate” a deferred prosecution agreement.

It would have allowed the company to pay a heavy fine and agree to corporate ethical reforms, but avoid registering a criminal conviction. A criminal conviction could impact the firm’s ability to bid on future government contracts. SNC Lavalin has challenged that refusal in court, and is awaiting a decision.

Lametti declined to say whether he would advise Trudeau to waive solicitor-client privilege.