TIMELINE: SNC-LAVALIN AND JODY WILSONRAYBOULD

Feb. 19, 2015: The RCMP lays corruption and fraud charges against Montreal-based engineering and construction firm SNC-Lavalin, over allegations it used bribery to get government business in Libya.

Oct. 19: The Liberals win a federal election, taking power from the Conservatives. Two weeks later, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau names Jody Wilson-Raybould, pictured, minister of justice and attorney general of Canada. Spring 2018: The Liberals pass a budget bill that includes a change to the Criminal Code allowing “remediation agreements,” plea-bargain-like deals between prosecutors and accused corporations in which they can avoid criminal proceedings by making reparations for previous bad behaviour. SNC-Lavalin lobbies for such an agreement, including by meeting with officials in the Prime Minister’s Office.

Oct. 9, 2018: Federal prosecutors refuse to offer SNC-Lavalin a remediation agreement, a decision it challenges in court.

Jan. 14, 2019: Trudeau shuffles his cabinet after the resignation of treasury board president Scott Brison. Wilson-Raybould is moved from Justice to Veterans Affairs, widely seen as a demotion.

Feb. 7: Citing unnamed sources, the Globe and Mail newspaper reports that Trudeau’s aides “attempted to press Wilson-Raybould when she was justice minister to intervene in the corruption and fraud prosecution of Montreal engineering and construction giant SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.,” and that exasperation with her lack of co-operation was one reason for shuffling her out of the justice portfolio. Trudeau denies any impropriety. Feb. 11: Federal ethics commissioner Mario Dion, pictured, says he’s beginning a probe. Feb. 12: Wilson-Raybould resigns as Veterans Affairs minister and says she’s hired former Supreme Court justice Thomas Cromwell to advise her on the limits of solicitor-client privilege in this case. Feb. 13: The House of Commons justice committee debates its own probe of the issue. Feb. 15: Trudeau says that Wilson-Raybould asked him in September whether he would direct her one way or another on the SNC-Lavalin question; he says he told her he would not. Feb.

18: Trudeau’s closest adviser and longtime friend Gerald Butts resigns as his principal secretary.