Trudeau says Wilson-Raybould can discuss 'relevant matters' during testimony
. The order authorizes her, as well as "any person who directly participated in discussions with her," to speak to the committee and ethics commissioner, about the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.
The prime minister has faced calls to waive solicitor-client privilege in the matter to allow Wilson-Raybould to speak publicly about allegations of political pressure being placed on her by members of the PMO in regards to an ongoing criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin. According to minister Jane Philpott, who is a close friend of Wilson-Raybould, her former cabinet colleague is "doing very well."
During the two-hour meeting, MPs heard from a handful of legal experts, both in the room and via video conference. These witnesses offered their hypothetical perspectives about the propriety of attorney generals making prosecutorial decisions, when the various principles are activated, and the balance of seeking advice from cabinet colleagues without succumbing to or factoring in politics.
"I'm not saying this is the case, but if she did get fired, I do not think the obligation is on her to resign… but if there's evidence that a prosecutor is fired and there was an attempt to influence or direct her attention to something that didn't have lawful authority, then it does raise the specter of obstruction of justice," Turpel-Lafond said.
"What we're saying is, fine, if that's the way it’s going to be you should come in Mr. Prime Minister and tell us what you know because clearly you’re doing a lot of the talking right now," Raitt said.Meanwhile in the House, the Conservatives focused in on Trudeau and forced the Commons to spend the day debating their motion to have him testify at the justice committee.
"Quite simply what we've seen unfold over the last two weeks is a textbook case of government corruption with those at the very top of the prime minister's office implicated in what could very well be the obstruction of justice," Scheer told reporters on Monday. In his response to Scheer's opening remarks in the Commons, Virani quoted a part of Wernick’s testimony that supported the government's position that Trudeau was consistent in telling Wilson-Raybould that offering a remediation agreement to SNC-Lavalin was her decision alone.
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