The clerk of the Privy Council testified in front of a parliamentary committee for the second time in two weeks. Here's his opening statement.
Michael Wernick, the clerk of the Privy Council, made his second appearance at the House of Commons justice committee in two weeks. In his opening statement, Wernick defended his conduct throughout the SNC-Lavalin affair, and stood by his prior testimony at the committee. Read the full statement below, as published on the Privy Council Office website.
I work at the intersection of the public service and the elected officials, and I am present for many discussions that touch on matters some would see as “political”. It is my role to be aware of this context but I do not ever give advice that is partisan in content or motivation. As Clerk, it is part of my job to give the Prime Minister impartial advice and feedback on how his Ministers are exercising their roles, their relationships with colleagues and with the public service.
I am disappointed to be accused of partisanship by people who have never met me. My career is on the public record. I have held the highest security clearances of this country for many years. I was named to Deputy Minister level positions by Prime Ministers Chretien, Martin, Harper and Trudeau. I participated in the transition exercise, the swearing in and the first Cabinet meeting of Prime Ministers Martin, Harper and Trudeau.
In dealing with the public interest, the AG’s decision is never final in the sense that the public interest can evolve or change. The impact of a decision to prosecute was evolving in this case. When I mentioned to the AG on September 17 that there was an election in Quebec I did not do so out of partisan considerations. That is an unfair inference. It is a long-standing convention for the federal government to stay out of the fray of provincial election campaigns.
I note that after the former Minister’s testimony the following facts are not contested. She was always the decision maker. She was assured multiple times that she was the final decision maker. The former Minister agreed that entering into a Deferred Prosecution Agreement would have been entirely lawful.
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