Vision (Canada)

MP FRANCIS DROUIN UNDER FIRE ON ETHICS SCANDAL

- GREGG CHAMBERLAI­N gregg.chamberlai­n@eap.on.ca

Glengarry-Prescott-Russell’s Liberal MP is catching flak from his main opponent in this year’s federal election over his action and position in the SNC-Lavalin scandal, which has the prime minister accused of a breach of ethics.

“Only five short months ago, our Liberal MP Francis Drouin shut down the Parliament­ary Justice Committee to prevent the former

- dal,” stated Pierre Lemieux, Conservati­ve candidate for the riding, in a letter sent to media in mid-August. “MP Drouin said, ‘I think I have heard enough’, that there was no coverup and that it was time to move on.

strongly disagrees.”

- rio Dion’s report was whether or not Prime Minister Justin Trudeau interfered with the decisions of other federal officials, including

investigat­ion.

Lemieux noted that Dion stated in his report on the matter that «the authority of the Prime Minister and his office was used” to circumvent, undermine and attempt to discredit the decisions of federal officials investigat­ing the Québec-based company.

“MP Francis Drouin has defended Justin Trudeau every step of the way,” stated

Commission­er’s dramatic report, will MP Francis Drouin admit that it was wrong for him to shut down the Justice Committee? The people of our riding also deserve to know if MP Francis Drouin agrees with the

actions were improper and broke the law, or if he agrees with Justin Trudeau that he did nothing wrong.”

In an email response to Lemieux’s allegation­s, Drouin defended his position and referred to an analysis of the Dion report by

and internatio­nal law and current president of the Internatio­nal Commission of Jurists, Canada. The analysis questions whether

commission­er and if he also misinterpr­eted Section 9 of the federal Conflict of Interest Act on what constitute­d a breach of trust.

“I would not have supported the Prime Minister if he had profited from this personally or tried to help his family or friends,” stated Drouin. “He didn’t. The rule of law is intact in this country and this, the former Attorney General, provided testimony to the committee in March about this.”

 ??  ?? Le député libéral Francis Drouin a été attaqué par le candidat conservate­ur Pierre Lemieux au sujet du scandale SNC-Lavalin.
Le député libéral Francis Drouin a été attaqué par le candidat conservate­ur Pierre Lemieux au sujet du scandale SNC-Lavalin.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada