Read Michael Wernick’s full opening statement from his testimony on the SNC-Lavalin affair GlobePolitics
for a second time, this time on his account of the SNC-Lavalin controversy. This is the Clerk of the Privy Council’s prepared opening statement as provided prior to his delivery.
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. The Prime Minister and his staff seek my advice before Cabinet shuffles and I have been the main advisor on appointments and deployments of Deputy Ministers.
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.
The PM assured the AG in my presence in September and in writing in December that the decision about prosecution was always hers to take.
So I repeat my contention that the Minister experienced lawful advocacy to consider doing something lawful in the public interest. I made no threats, veiled or otherwise, that the Minister’s decision would lead to consequences for her. My position at all times could be captured by the phrase “non-ingerence, non-indifference”.It is my contention that the Minister was doing her job and I was doing mine.
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