Thursday 21 February 2019

Top civil servant slams SNC-Lavalin media report as erroneous, 'defamatory'

https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies





Replying to and 49 others
Methinks I should dare anyone to ask me why I am well aware Michael Wernick was Deputy Minister of Aboriginal and Northern affairs under Harper Anyone can Google Michael Wernick and David Amos N'esy Pas?


https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/02/top-civil-servant-slams-snc-lavalin.html





https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lametti-justice-committee-snc-lavalin-1.5027617




Top civil servant slams SNC-Lavalin media report as erroneous, 'defamatory'





8608 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.





Don Cameron
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Don Cameron
Lametti was hand selected by Trudeau to 'smooth the way' for SNC to get their DPA.

I don't expect the committee will get much that's useful out of him. He's Trudeau's boy.


Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Don Cameron

You will say that about anyone who doesnt say exactly what you want to hear. That is precisely why this is a witch hunt.

JWR as Attorney General had the responsibility to report any crime committed to the RCMP and she didnt. If she felt the pressure from the PMO was "improper" while really cares if a law wasn't broken?

Are we to be so naive to think the Prime Minister isn't going to make a case for following his directive?

This is the dumbest "scandal" ever

Matt Thuaii
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Matt Thuaii
@Troy Mann

If Canadians truly believe this isn’t a glorified election ad for the Conservative Party, at the cost of eroding trust in our justice system...

...naive is exactly the right word.

Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Matt Thuaii

Conservatives under the Harper banner have never cared about eroding trust in our justice system. 10 years of Harper scandals and judgments against him were all because of "liberal activist judges legislating from the bench"... There entire motive is to eliminate trust in the justice system so they can remove our freedoms and rights..

Sheer has already stated clearly he doesnt care about any judge standing in the way of a pipeline, they will bulldoze through no matter what the courts say or the people do...

Neil Turv
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Neil Turv
@Matt Thuaii

The real question is how did they get the independent indigenous senators, the NDP and the Globe and Mail to work for them.

One of those questions none of the hyper partisans on the Liberal side can answer, along with what happened to Trudeau's promise not to bury things in Omnibus bills, why did Butts coincidentally resign right after this allegation broke, etc. etc.

I'm not saying Trudeau's guilty, but pretending the reaction (from all sides of the political spectrum) is unwarranted baseless smearing all for the gains of the Cons is about as believable as someone claiming Harper is a nice, affable guy.

Hold your leader of choice to the same standards you hold those you don't support.

Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Neil Turv

Michael Wernick was deputy Minister of aboriginal and northern affairs for the entire Harper tenure...

Are you going to say he is a liberal? Are you going to say the first non partisan witness is lying under oath?

Matt Thuaii
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Matt Thuaii
@Neil Turv

That’s the real question? First, I’ll happily shatter your claim that no one can explain it, because I can (not that I’m hyper partisan, which is just as ludicrous a claim as that “question” being “real”). Indigenous senators care about Indigenous issues. They want to make this an “indigenous” issue (even though Jody Wilson Raybould does not), because if it is, they get to talk about it, even use it for their own purposes (whatever those are). The NDP is on board because they’re politically “lost in the wilderness”, and they’ll run with any wedge that gets them votes (like any party would)...and as for the Globe and Mail? You don’t understand why a media outlet (especially one struggling for relevance in the internet age) would run a story they know will ignite the exact situation we’re watching unfold? During the lead up to an election?

None of these parties are working for anyone; just like the Conservatives, they’re all in it for themselves.

Edward Peter
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Edward Peter
@Don Cameron
If you believe that then all the people elected are on the take, and you should find our self an Island.

Karen King
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Karen King
@Troy Mann

cons don't care about the law it seems, Andy keeps calling for the government to go over the law...the con way

Karen King
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Karen King
@Neil Turv

Butts resigned simply because he has always advocated that if there is an accusation about someone they should step down until cleared, showing at least he is not a hypocrite

David Allan
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David Allan
@Don Cameron

Who better to do that than a member of the Conservative Party of Canada?

He's a Conservative.

Michael Wernick
Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
In office
May 5, 2006 – July 11, 2014

Edith Grey
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Edith Grey
@David Allan
Do you know what a Deputy Minister is? Again, we go to civics - maybe even the grade 5 version. Deputy Ministers are civil servants....not political appointees. The Minister is the politician. Deputy Ministers do not get switched out if party control changes.

Darren MacDonald
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Darren MacDonald
@Edith Grey He was also deputy clerk under Janice Charette during Paul Martin's term so he was a Liberal using others' logic. Maybe he is a Libervative.

Jack Slate
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Jack Slate
Whether Warnick is con or lib is irrelevant. What is important to note that Warnick called JWR in December to give her "context" regarding the negative results of not giving snc a pass. He's knee deep in this scandal and his testimony appears motivated by his own self-defence.

Neil Turv
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Neil Turv
@Matt Thuaii

I'm sorry but the mindset that "everyone who dares challenge my narrative is colluding and in it for selfish gains." Is exactly why I find this so amusing and why the claims you are not a hyper partisan.,

The notion that any one major party in Canada is inherently evil, bad or out to destroy Canada....Any party, puts you into the hyper partisan category.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Don Cameron

The thought of another ANTI SCIENCE ANTI CLIMATE change right wing government back in power, will make any REASONABLE Canadian , give Trudeau the benefit of the doubt.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Don Cameron

IN the MEANTIME lets hope the NDP can get the act together, because so far under SINGH , they've done nothing but hide from controversy.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Don Cameron

SEEMS everyday virtually ALL the top posts are DISPROPORTIONATE attacks on on Prime Minister, making reasonable people to think this ISN'T representative of the MAJORITY of people who voted for the Liberal Party of Canada.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Don Cameron

Personally I think the disproportionate number of attacks on our Prime Minister are coming from boilers rooms churning out misinformation and outright belligerence toward our government , probably coming from the Russians or the same mechanism that bringing down the Venezuelan government or both.


david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Don Cameron

YOU"D THINK by the tone and number of attacks on this site everyday, Justin Trudeau hasn't a friend or a supporter, this despite most of the time his poll numbers bouncing around the near 40% AND THAT makes you wonder whats going on.

David Amos
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David Amos
@Don Cameron "Lametti was hand selected by Trudeau to 'smooth the way' for SNC to get their DPA"

Methinks you may be correct much to the chagrin of Mr Mann and his cohorts N'esy Pas?

Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@David Amos

I support the use of DPA to protect innocent Canadian jobs and investors

David Amos
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David Amos
@Troy Mann Methinks you mean Vestcor N'esy Pas?


david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Don Cameron

ONE of the reasons we here in Canada and the United States have such APATHETIC bunch of wilfully uninformed voters , is because in the US CIVICS CLASSES have all been done away with and here in Canada its anemic to say the best AND in both cases I think this deliberate.

Roy Decoy
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Roy Decoy
@Don Cameron And so is the new Ethic Commissioner...both from PQ













Daryl McBride 
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Daryl McBride
Liberals investigating Liberals and limiting witnesses. What happened to Canada?


Peter Boone
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Peter Boone
@Daryl McBride The Liberals must take Canadians to be fools to proceed with a farce of this magnitude. Unfortunately there may still be plenty of fish on their hooks.

Gordon McPherson
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Gordon McPherson
@Daryl McBride

I know.

"You won't recognize Canada when I'm through with it."

Smith John
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Smith John
@Daryl McBride

"Canada is back!"

Tarl Cabbot
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Tarl Cabbot
@Daryl McBride

Limiting witnesses?
How so?

Oh, yeah, wait a minute . . .

The lawyer (David Lametti) will undoubtedly provide reams and reams and reams of unintelligible "fie" print testimony.
That's what lawyers do.

Nico De Jong
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Nico De Jong
@Smith John
what he meant was Liberals are back - at the trough, and at their schem ing and conniv ing ways.
Oh, and Liberal arrogance on steroids is back.

Chris Harris
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Chris Harris
@Daryl McBride

You sound surprised.

Bernie Hunter
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Bernie Hunter
@Daryl McBride

Correct. And no more Quebec Prime Ministers.

Art Rowe
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Art Rowe
@Tarl Cabbot

LEFT or RIGHT?
That is the question, which side of his mouth is he speaking out of?

Artie Gibson
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Artie Gibson
@Daryl McBride

The Cash Filled Brown Paper Bag Association rules.

Jamie Gillis
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Jamie Gillis
@Daryl McBride

The uselessness of having Lametti there is rather apparent, from what I can see. Anything to do with the heart of the matter, that is anything between JWR and the PMO, he is only saying he confirm whether any particular meetings even occurred, let alone comment on them. I would think the only questions of possible use might be when he was notified that Trudeau wanted to make him the new AG, if he had any information as to why JWR was being removed, and if the SNC Lavalin affair was brought up in those discussions or other meetings since.

Tarl Cabbot
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Tarl Cabbot
@Art Rowe

It is like a game of "Survivor"
Lamentti will protect himself first, and then the PMO, and then SNC

I am sure none of those three lean neither left nor right, but aim toward self preservation, power and profit.

Jamie Gillis
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Jamie Gillis
@Jamie Gillis

saying he can't confirm*

Matt Thuaii
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Matt Thuaii
@Daryl McBride

If this is such a massive travesty of justice, and our government is just so compromised, why don’t you take a crack at explaining why SNC Lavalin didn’t get what it wanted in the end?

I’ll go get my popcorn.

Matt Thuaii
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Matt Thuaii
@Peter Boone

The Conservatives must think Canadians can be cowed like sheep if they think this obvious political attack will resonate all the way to the election...

...scratch that...with all the foreign attacks via social media, shady practices of right-wing funded PR firms, and the willingness of the Conservatives to appeal to the worst in people, it just might.

Matt Thuaii
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Matt Thuaii
@Chris Harris

He sounds poorly informed...

...or maybe just well funded.

Doug James
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Doug James
@Daryl McBride
This is the new open and transparent Liberal government promised! Do you realize how totally closed and shadowed it was before? Now if we can only get those pesky independent internet sites to stop reporting their version of truth, we could all be full of bliss!

Ryan Tasker
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Ryan Tasker
@Daryl McBride
Welcome to politics 101... you don't actually have to have proof of wrongdoings to take down your opponents, you simply have to accuse them of something then watch as they scramble.

Leslie Rowen
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Leslie Rowen
@Daryl McBride

Justin Trudeau is what happened to Canada. The good news is that the broken parts can be replaced in October.

Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Daryl McBride

When the witch hunt starts to fall apart as truth comes out conservatives will continue to ignore the facts and sling mud no matter.

Sam Uekel
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Sam Uekel
@Daryl McBride

Cons would do the same thing. The sooner lap dogs from either spectrum of the political scale realize this the sooner they can make clear headed decisions come election time.

Jack Johnson
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Jack Johnson
@Daryl McBride Are we pretending this is something new in Canada?

Bryan Danielson
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Bryan Danielson
@Daryl McBride

the answer you're looking for is defined in your statement.

Matt Thuaii
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Matt Thuaii
@Ryan Tasker

...or in this case, watching as they provide comprehensive, logical answers to ludicrous, baseless charges from anonymous sources...

...fanned by opposition parties obviously and shamelessly trolling for votes.

Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Daryl McBride

Michael Wernick served under Harper as Deputy Minister of aboriginal and northern affairs for 10 years...

Waiting for cons to call him out as a "Liberal" as their witch hunt falls a part

Karen King
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Karen King
@Matt Thuaii

OMG yes, this has nothing to do with SNC and all to do with the desperate cons...

roger murphy
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roger murphy
@Troy Mann

Switch hitter?

Edward Peter
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Edward Peter
@Daryl McBride
The Head Of the Privy Council, is a 37 year apolitical person, has worked for Both governments, so saying he is Bias, is just wrong.
He said the G&M report is full of holes, and he was there.
Lisa did not Grill anybody, just tried to get people to agree with her view, which they did NOT.

Gerald Girard
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Gerald Girard
@Daryl McBride

Let the woman speak.

Edward Peter
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Edward Peter
@Tarl Cabbot
I should have watch the Questioning on CPAC, like I did. 

You are wrong.


Jack Slate
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Jack Slate
Wernick testimony seems to be self serving as he admits to having a discussion with JWR on the snc file and the "context" of the prosecution. Sounds like he's just defending himself rather than having this all seeing proof that nothing wrong was done.

David Amos
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David Amos
@Troy Mann "Michael Wernick served under Harper as Deputy Minister of aboriginal and northern affairs for 10 years"

Methinks I should double dog dare you to ask me why I am well aware of that fact N'esy Pas?

Edward Peter
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Edward Peter
@Leslie Rowen
By a young man, that is running what position 4 premiers handed him and a Faulty news story, great Platform.

Gerald Girard
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Gerald Girard
@Daryl McBride

The fact that SNC-Lavalin were able to lobby for changes that would save them from prosecution is really all I need to know how this played out.

David Amos
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David Amos
@Troy Mann "Waiting for cons to call him out as a "Liberal" as their witch hunt falls a part"

In the "Mean" time methinks anyone can Google Michael Wernick and David Amos N'esy Pas?

Scotty Davidson
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Scotty Davidson
@Daryl McBride Omnibus budgets happened, change our laws with no debate or input to or from Canadians.


bill laplante
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bill laplante
@Matt Thuaii Because she got fired for the decision


Karen King
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Karen King
@bill laplante

nope, no one got fired, just posting what you are told??

Matt Parks
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Matt Parks
@Daryl McBride: You can't honestly think any other party would've done things differently? Every single federal government, at least in my lifetime, has had some kind of a scandal like this and tried to cover it up.... What happened to Canada? Nothing. Same old, same old.

David Allan
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David Allan
@Daryl McBride

That's one way to declare you don't understand how committees are formed in parliament.

Welcome to Canada.
Learn how your country works.

David Allan
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David Allan
@Daryl McBride

He's a Conservative.

Michael Wernick

Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet

Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
In office
May 5, 2006[2] – July 11, 2014

Bob Hull
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Bob Hull
@Daryl McBride

They learned well from Secret Steve and the gang.

Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Jay michael

Baseless accusations are weak

Phil K'Mee
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Phil K'Mee
@Daryl McBride

Liberals.

David Amos
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David Amos
@Troy Mann "Baseless accusations are weak"

Methinks you ignoring my replies is even weaker Too bad so sad for all that one went "Poof" already N'esy Pas?


Art Rowe
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Art Rowe
@Daryl McBride
Canada's top public servant says he is worried someone will be assassinated during the coming federal election campaign given the disturbing tenor of recent public discussion.
Humm, more serious than discussing just SNC.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Daryl McBride

"Top (INDEPENDENT)civil servant slams SNC-Lavalin media report as erroneous, 'defamatory'. SEEMS we have Russaians meddling in elections again

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Daryl McBride

IF JESUS himself said " SNC-Lavalin media report as erroneous, 'defamatory'", these conservatives wouldn't believe, mostly because they wouldn't want to believe.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Daryl McBride
AS for Gerald Butts walking , who knows , long time friends can have spats that damage their relationship.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Daryl McBride

Either way, unless he was Trudeau was to take a gun and shoot someone like Donald says he can with impunity, Canadians will forgive him, because the thought of a Harper government back in power is too much to bare.

Dennis Quaid
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Dennis Quaid
@david mccaig how much do you make as a liberal spinster?

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Dennis Quaid

Quote "david mccaig how much do you make as a liberal spinster?"

My friend I wish i could get paid for this, but liberal government are more honest than most and don't need MANUFACTURE consent like some party's do.

David Amos
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David Amos
@Dennis Quaid "how much do you make as a liberal spinster?"

Whereas your brother owes me a favour let me know if you get an answer will ya?


Dennis Quaid
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Dennis Quaid
@david mccaig That implication is very interesting, it would be nice if there was some truth to it, however, like the current liberal government, it's shrouded in deception and lies.


Fred Rickert
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Fred Rickert
@Artie Gibson

Wrong party. That was the Conservatives.

Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Daryl McBride

Conservatives wanted answers and when they dont like the answers they get they attack an honorable man. 

Based on conservatives attacking him here, I hope the RCMP are protecting him 

I quote: 
"Those are the words that lead to assassination," he said. "I'm worried that somebody's going to get shot this year during the political campaign."

Gloria Wangler
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Gloria Wangler
@Daryl McBride Liberals are guilty and Canadians know it.


John Smith
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John Smith
@Troy Mann Yes what a dramatic and over the top attempt to inspire fear and sympathy with that assassination comment. So pathetic

James Rielly
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James Rielly
@Gloria Wangler Nobody "knows".Gee!what are you,judge ,jury and witness?

David Amos
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David Amos
@Daryl McBride Methinks somebody should take this old lawyer off to the funny farm for a rest or at least turn off the mike Nesy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tasker-michael-wernick-partisan-going-be-shot-1.5028503

"I worry about the rising tides of incitements to violence when people use terms like 'treason' and 'traitor' in open discourse. Those are the words that lead to assassination. I'm worried that somebody is going to be shot in this country this year during the political campaign," Wernick said.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Daryl McBride

If conservatives cared one IOTA about Canadians they'd never allow a wreaking ball like Doug Ford to represent their party, but they don't and that's why in all their frustration , Ontarians were forced to support Doug Ford.


Jack Black
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Jack Black
@Daryl McBride

Its called 'democratic backsliding'

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Daryl McBride

I come here everyday to counter what I think is a deliberate misinformation campaign and unwarranted attacks on OUR elected government, and what's more I believe the majority is being done by people who aren't even Canadians.

John Oaktree
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John Oaktree
@Daryl McBride

OMG!!! The Liberals are following the same rules the Conservatives did when they were in power!!!

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Daryl McBride

I'D like to APOLOGIZE to OUR Prime Minister for calling for him to step down , I got caught up in the wave of manufactured hysteria by infotainment outlets that call themselves NEWS


Dave Robertson
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Dave Robertson
@Daryl McBride There is no evidence at all of any wrong doing. Now Doug Ford on the other hand has scandals on a weekly basis. Why is he still in office?

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Daryl McBride

AND I take OFFENCE tthose that come here every and take POT SHOTS at our ELECTED government, for nothing more than to be contrary. I also take great offence at those that come here and imply all politicians are self, , WHICH couldn't any further from the truth. This whole THEME to villainize politicians, is a deliberate attempt to undermine all democracies, for the pleasure of those who'll most likely benefit by it.

Scotty Davidson
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Scotty Davidson
@Dave Robertson He changed our criminal code in a omnibus budget so corporations can break our laws and avoid prosecution. Perhaps you think subverting democracy like that isn't wrong, but I and many others do.


Scotty Davidson
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Scotty Davidson
@Dave Robertson It was wrong when Harper did it, it is worse when Trudeau does it... he campaigned on running a open and transparent government. 500+ omnibus budgets are not transparent.


Moira Wilkinson
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Moira Wilkinson
@Daryl McBride
Codswallop! He has worked for several governments over the yeast

joseph dover
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joseph dover
@Daryl McBride ...and you wondered how they became the 'natural' governing party over time....

James Holden
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James Holden
@Daryl McBride

Wernick is a Conservative.
He was an Conservative MP from 2006- 2014

Darren MacDonald
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Darren MacDonald
@James Holden That's a big facepalm, what riding did he represent? For $1000 Alex, I'll take fake news.

Robyn Fisher
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Robyn Fisher
@James Holden

That is incorrect, James.


James Rielly
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James Rielly
@David Amos Why?One only has to look at the USA to see the violence incited by hyper partisanship and it doesn't take long to find examples.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Daryl McBride

ONE of the reasons we here in Canada and the United States have such APATHETIC bunch of wilfully uninformed voters , is because in the US CIVICS CLASSES have all been done away with and here in Canada its anemic to say the best AND in both cases I think this deliberate.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Daryl McBride

I BELIEVE polling corporations are set up by the establishment to MANUFACTURE CONSENSUS and CONSENT, kinda a biased CHEAT SHEET for low information Canadians.

David Amos
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David Amos
@James Rielly "One only has to look at the USA to see the violence incited by hyper partisanship and it doesn't take long to find example"

Trust that Mr Wernick knows that I have been investigating murder on both sides of the 49th for many years. Google David Amos wiretap


David Amos
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David Amos
@James Rielly FYI I replied but the powers that be did not want you to read it


David Amos
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David Amos
@James Rielly Google T-1557-15 scroll down to paragraph 83











Troy Mann
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Ben Robinson
What a circus this has become. The Trudeau Liberals are playing Canadians for fools.


Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Ben Robinson

Conservatives love a good witch hunt

Ben Robinson
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Ben Robinson
@Troy Mann ... So this is all about ... nothing?

Time will tell. But, there sure is a LOT of smoke.

Ryan Tasker
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Ryan Tasker
@Ben Robinson
This is the game of politics, kiddo.
It doesn't change regardless of who is in power... the game just cycles.
Get used to it. The electorate is played for fools every 1 to 4 years... and most of the electorate are so politically unintelligent, they fall for it.

Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Ben Robinson

Smoke is easily manufactured by propagandist

Jennifer McIsaac
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Jennifer McIsaac
@Ben Robinson

I think it is the Conservative opposition and the media that are playing Canadians for fools as there is absolutely no evidence of malfeasance.

Matt Thuaii
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Matt Thuaii
@Ben Robinson

So far this looks positively pedestrian, no Liberals appear to have done anything wrong based on the facts so far, and yet the Conservatives and the internet brigades who support them can’t stop screaming their heads off about all this...

...me thinks they doth protest too much.

Edward Peter
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Edward Peter
@Ben Robinson
How? The Cons are doing all the talking, that is where the skylarking is coming from, at the cost of your taxes.

David Allan
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David Allan
@Ben Robinson

I prefer to wait until the actual facts come forth.

What cracks me up most about the right-wing is that when something like this comes out about themselves they call it fake news and say if the source were credible they wouldn't be anonymous.

Shoe, welcome to the other foot.

Karen King
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Karen King
@Jennifer McIsaac

actually they are playing some as fools, fortunately there are still many that see what's going on.... as the cons dig the pit for themselves, I'll be happy once the election is over....seems some are willing to stoop too low for my taste...

Karen King
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Karen King
@Matt Thuaii

nice to see there are some of us that know what Andy is up to....

David Allan
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David Allan
@Ben Robinson

He's a Conservative.

Michael Wernick
Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
In office
May 5, 2006 – July 11, 2014

Ben Robinson
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Ben Robinson
@David Allan ... Yes ... facts. Those truths that the Trudeau Liberals are obviously trying to hide.

How Liberals can continue to be sanctimonious about all of this is beyond me. Actually, with a Trudeau in the PMO, perhaps not.

Edith Grey
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Edith Grey
@David Allan
You are making a seriously flawed assumption. Again, we go to civics - maybe even the grade 5 version. Deputy Ministers are civil servants....not political appointees. The Minister is the politician. Deputy Ministers do not get switched out if party control changes.

Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Edith Grey " The Minister is the politician. Deputy Ministers do not get switched out if party control changes."

The deputy Minister works in the department at the whim of the minister.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Ben Robinson

LONG BEFORE these SNC-Lavalin ACCUSATIONS came out, the same bunch that are here today go on about 'bad,bad, Trudeau is bad , really bad' and you've got to know any reasonable honest coherent political party would expect this from their members.

david mccaig
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david mccaig
@Ben Robinson

Conservatives CROW about their minuscule poll numbers rising, when the truth they NEVER break 40%, not even close and that's taking into account the LEFT VOTE is SPLIT between the liberals , the NDP and the Green Party, which in the United States the Russian boiler rooms were supporting the American Green Party to siphon votes away from HILLARY CLINTON , not because the RUSSIANS love the Green Party, but because they knew any votes directed at an opposing party , no matter who, it is would be lost on the leading contender.

David Amos
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David Amos
@Ben Robinson "What a circus this has become"

Methinks everybody knows how much I love the circus N'esy Pas?


James Holden
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James Holden
@Ben Robinson

It's beginning to look like it was the Conservatives trying to play the public for fools by blowing this out of all proportion.

david mccaig
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david mccaig 
 @Ben Robinson

And BELIEVE ME when I'm commenting I'm supporting a man who has made many blunders as far as I'm concerned , some INSINCERE like his two faces of supporting the Paris accord on climate change , then returning to not only give an OK to a new tar sands pipeline TRIPLING the Tar Sands output, but he bought it with OUR tax dollars( didn't see cons screaming about that one) and then turns to the tar Sands that are wreaking an environmental DISASTER in our far North and exporting one of the dirtiest most polluting oil on the planet, not to mention the Tar Sands are NORTH AMERICAS NUMBER ONE source of air pollution.


harry richard
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harry richard
@Ben Robinson ... and using tax dollars to do it.

harry richard
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harry richard
@harry richard ... maybe regular Haitians are correct

Mark Walen Cooper
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Mark Walen Cooper
@Ben Robinson - the contract to build the Champlain bridge was awarded in April 2015 when Conservatives were in power. SNC-Lavalin faced criminal corruption charges over activities in Libya at the time. So where does this place everyone? Just saying.


Irv Millar
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Irv Millar 
@david mccaig That is where a free press is essential. To earn the title of Journalist, the individual must first have a desire to be impartial in their reports. Once the Journalist compromises this ethical obligation to society, they become mere reporters of facts that they are told to report upon or create. Propaganda, disinformation or a litany of other negatives are the spawn of these non-democratic actions. Such actions can cause uncertainty or chaos and is a dark influence in our democratic process.


joseph dover
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joseph dover
@Ben Robinson ...some are easily played too...

James Rielly
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James Rielly
@James Holden Maybe that was the plan :)

David Amos
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David Amos
@Irv Millar "Propaganda, disinformation or a litany of other negatives are the spawn of these non-democratic actions. Such actions can cause uncertainty or chaos and is a dark influence in our democratic process."

So did I run in the election of the 42nd Parliament while suing the Queen or didn't I?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276



David Amos
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David Amos
@James Rielly "Maybe that was the plan :)"

Methinks it must be a pretty good plan if they can fool Mr Butts into quitting his fancy job mere months before an election N'esy Pas?












Troy Mann 
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AnneClarke
You have to be pretty daft to believe anything will come from Lametti testifying, he wasn't even there! Liberals investigating Liberals, how stupid do they think we are?


Ronald Canell
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Ronald Canell
@AnneClarke thats why he is testifying

Troy Mann
 Content disabled.
Troy Mann
@AnneClarke

How about Michael Wernick? You going to call Harpers deputy Minister of aboriginal and northern affairs for 10 years a liberal?

Edith Grey
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Edith Grey
@Troy Mann
Again, we go to civics - maybe even the grade 5 version. Deputy Ministers are civil servants....not political appointees. The Minister is the politician. Deputy Ministers do not get switched out if party control changes.

Erin Holloway
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Erin Holloway
@Edith Grey Deputy Ministers may not be political appointees but they often are changed when governments changed. Compare a list of deputy ministers before and after any election - at both the federal and provincial levels - and you will see deputy ministers moving from one department to another or even leaving public service all together. The last provincial election in Alberta is a good example. Many of the long serving deputy ministers left the government after the NDP government was elected.

David Amos
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David Amos
@AnneClarke "Liberals investigating Liberals, how stupid do they think we are?"

Methinks they think we are as stupid as they are N'esy Pas?













Jerry MaGuire 
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Jerry MaGuire
RCMP investigation the only way forward. Yesterday's info confirms JWR was contacted after prosecutors decided SNC would not qualify for any deal. Criminality.


Jeff hunt
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Jeff hunt
@Jerry MaGuire your faith in the ponies is misguided.

Jennifer McIsaac
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Jennifer McIsaac
@Jerry MaGuire

Rubbish. There is no crime in anyone contacting JWR if they did not pressure her.

Troy Mann
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Troy Mann
@Jerry MaGuire

RCMP investigations require evidence not anonymous source.

Karen King
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Karen King
@Jerry MaGuire

so this all turns out to be nothing that would be a tremendous waste of resources, can't you at least wait until Jody has her say??

Aaron Morris
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Aaron Morris
@Karen King

We would all love for Jody to have her say, except for the PMO whom won't waive privilege as they are all terrified.

David Amos
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David Amos
@Jerry MaGuire "RCMP investigation the only way forward."

Methinks there is no need for the RCMP to investigate political party infighting The court of public opinion held on polling day this October should resolve the matter anyway N'esy Pas?











Maxim Verite 
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Maxim Verite
For years I've said Trudeau is probably a nice man, but just not bright enough for the job.

Now, he's convinced me he's not a nice man at all.

And, he's still not qualified.


george bath
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george bath
@Maxim Verite
nothing else credible to attack so go after the PM

Stephen McIntyre
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Stephen McIntyre
@Maxim Verite - Oh.. you've got a feeling. Let's go with that. Who needs evidence?

John Smith
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John Smith
@Maxim Verite Hopefully you'll remember in the future that often times those who appear overly nice are simply using it to mask their true nature.

Maxim Verite
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Maxim Verite
@Stephen McIntyre

Evidently not the Liberals, since they're so actively suppressing it

Tom Abbott
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Tom Abbott
@george bath
Nothing else credible....are you for real. Read the news. George...its full of credible government ethics blunders.

John Smith
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John Smith
@Maxim Verite beware those that don the mask of purity and virtue to disguise the fact they are conniving and wicked. It's how priests got away with abusing children for so long(still do) it's how JT tricked many into handing the wheel to a man without morals or conscience.

Fenn Edwards
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Fenn Edwards
@Maxim Verite

The exact same can be said about Stephen Harper.

David Amos
Content disabled.
David Amos
@John Smith Oh So True












Tarl Cabbot
Chris Spiers
He has nothing of value since he was not the AG during the time of question.

What he does bring is more Liberal rhetoric


Tarl Cabbot
Tarl Cabbot
@Chris Spiers

Ya know, I tend to slant a bit toward the left. Kind of like sitting on the fence and slightly over . . .

But this pony show serves to reinforce my notion that it doesn't matter what flavour of political party has or doesn't have power.
It is the corporations, the elite, the parasites of society who run the government.

Matt Thuaii
Matt Thuaii
@Tarl Cabbot

If you’ve lost the ability to see the difference between the parties...if you’ve truly lost faith in our government thanks to this manufactured scandal...

...you haven’t been paying nearly enough attention.

Tarl Cabbot
Tarl Cabbot
@Matt Thuaii

Matt, you are part right. I am in the side lines, and while I do see differences in the various party ideologies, I do have trouble differentiating the long term visions amongst them.

One thing is very clear to me.
Not much will change in the life of a typical Canadian regardless of who sits in the big chair on the hill.

Money makes money, and the small people scramble for any crumbs that might fall about then turn it over as taxes to under pin the big game of politics.

Neil Turv
Neil Turv
@Tarl Cabbot

Well said, the reality is you give any party power and people within that party will abuse it. What is happening now is no different from uncountable previous scenarios under any government.

- Media outlet files a report, protects the source (cornerstone of journalism and a free and fair society.)
- Opposition partie(s) use it to enhance their own appeal, make the sitting government look bad.
- Insecure supporters of the accused insist it's unique, unfair and baseless.
- Ideally the appropriate investigative bodies looks into it and reports the findings.

It happens to every sitting government, and will continue to happen when the next guy replaces Trudeau, whenever that will be.

Troy Mann
Troy Mann
@Chris Spiers

How about Michael Wernick? Deputy Minister of aboriginal and northern affairs for the entire tenure of Harper...

Clearly a "liberal" right so you can keep the witch hunt going

Matt Thuaii
Matt Thuaii
@Tarl Cabbot

Look up the definitions of “left wing” and “right wing”.

The difference is, some politicians and parties believe they deserve to be in charge (and whether or not how they get there is ethical or moral, that’s how it should be).

Edward Peter
Edward Peter
@Chris Spiers
Why did the Cons want him as a Witness, they know the game?

Karen King
Karen King
@Tarl Cabbot

hmmm, not so sure, some of the issues I am concerned about are in jeopardy under the cons...for example the right for a woman to chose whether or not to have an abortion....Andy is against that but says he will not make changes, but he will probably stop funding like Trumpy....these are the big differences between the parties.

Normally I go with the best person when I vote but for the last decade it's been simply anti con as from where I sit they are going to do the most harm to the majority of people.

David Allan
David Allan
@Chris Spiers

Do you know what the Privy Council is?
Grade 10 civics.

Neil Turv
Neil Turv
@Karen King

If any government touches abortion rights on a federal level I will eat my hat, and I'm so confident about that I'll eat every other persons hat who wants to donate it to my meals.

Scheer might pay lip service to back benchers to appease SoCons, but every politician knows how to count and if you look at the latest Canadian polls for Pro Choice vs Pro Life it's not a battle worth fighting.

Kerry Thurston
Kerry Thurston
@David Allan

He’s only ‘privy’ to Cabinet discussions .....and not PMO private discussions.
That’s really basic.

David Amos
David Amos
@Chris Spiers "What he does bring is more Liberal rhetoric"

I agree

David Amos
David Amos
@David Allan "Do you know what the Privy Council is?"

Have you ever spoken with Paul Shuttle? Trust that I have.

Chris Spiers
Chris Spiers
@David Amos

So that and a quarter lets you make a phone call

David Amos
David Amos
@Chris Spiers True but would that lawyer talk to you?


Chris Spiers
Chris Spiers
@David Amos
The question is why would I Want to talk to him?


David Amos
David Amos
@Chris Spiers Why do you bother publishing opinions about his boss?



david mccaig
david mccaig
@Chris Spiers

19 posts i contributed here have all disppeared

Art Rowe
Art Rowe
@david mccaig
Maybe because of your penchant to OVER contribute by SO MANY posts that could have been actually posted as 1 or 2.
Use KISS principal.

Joe Renaud
Joe Renaud
@Chris Spiers

The Clerk of the Privy Council (a non-political bureaucrat) reminded the minister that there would be real world consequences to her decisions. Yes - this is pressure - but it is the sort of pressure she that is in her job description.

Karen King
Karen King
@Chris Spiers

OMG are folks just brain dead here, he is the head of the privy council....not an AG and he was there and has been for years...clearly you have no idea what his job is.....sheesh

Matt Thuaii
Matt Thuaii
@Art Rowe

Or maybe it’s because he writes comments that contradict the narrative being pushed by those who come here with internet brigades to manipulate Canadians into doing what they want...

...in this case, they want us to believe that the Liberals have committed horrible crimes against humanity (without evidence of course), and the Conservatives are the only ones who can save us.

James Fitzgibbon
James Fitzgibbon
@Chris Spiers

This is blatantly false. He is not the AG, he is Clerk of the Privy Council, one of the most important positions in our government. He also served under Harper, so your idiotic statement about Liberal rhetoric is exactly as uninformed as your AG statement.













Chris Spiers
Mark Lack
The Liberals on this committee have let down the people of Canada.


Charles O'Neill
Charles O'Neill
@Mark Lack Unfortunately allegiance to the party is more important than allegiance to the country

Ryan Tasker
Ryan Tasker
@Charles O'Neill
Ha! You people think you vote for a local representative? Hasn't been that way in well over 100 years. They're all smitten to their party.

Jennifer McIsaac
Jennifer McIsaac
@Charles O'Neill

Yes, that is why the opposition are making such a meal of what is a case where there is no evidence of wrong doing.

Meantime Canada suffers,

Aaron Morris
Aaron Morris
@Jennifer McIsaac

The opposition is making the biggest deal of the fact that the Liberal's are suppressing testimony from the only one who can really say what happened.

That is indisputable.

Karen King
Karen King
@Aaron Morris

no it's not Jody is doing her own suppressing...if you think Trudeau is not dying for her to clear this up you are sadly mistaken...

Jack O Hill
Jack O Hill
@Karen King

"no it's not Jody is doing her own suppressing...if you think Trudeau is not dying for her to clear this up you are sadly mistaken..."

Both Martin and Harper waived privilege. Time for Trudeau to do the same, if he is so keen to have her speak her peace.

David Amos
David Amos
@Mark Lack "The Liberals on this committee have let down the people of Canada."

Methinks most of peoplekind expected this nonsense N'esy Pas?


David Amos
David Amos
@Jack O Hill YUP



Matt Thuaii
Matt Thuaii
@Karen King

There’s no if...

...sadly mistaken it is.












Troy Mann
Bob Lashram
What a farce...


wal wiseman
wal wiseman
@george bath fake news, nothing to see here. Move along...lol

Troy Mann
Troy Mann
@Bob Lashram

Total farce all based on an anonymous source. Witch hunts are called witch hunts because they are a farce.

Byron Whitford
Byron Whitford
@Troy Mann

God you guys sound like Trump.

David Amos
David Amos
@Bob Lashram Welcome to the Circus



Matt Thuaii
Matt Thuaii
@Bob Lashram

Yes...this boldfaced attempt to create a scandal looks awful...

...but considering their history, typical Conservative behaviour.











Daryl McBride 
Daryl McBride
Lametti should resign as well, clearly not working for Canada.


george bath
george bath
@Daryl McBride
what would make it clearer for you?

Daryl McBride
Daryl McBride
@george bath Watch the show, embarrassing.

Gary Norton
Gary Norton
@george bath some actual answers.

Gord Gundersen
Gord Gundersen
@george bath He has to answer who is the client that can waive privilege, but he won't, so it seems he is not working for Canadian who want answers. Either he knows and will not answer or he is incompetent and needs to step down so someone who knows who the client is can give us an answer.

James Fitzgibbon
James Fitzgibbon
@Daryl McBride

Because you disagree with him, he should resign. And who are you, exactly?

Troy Mann
Troy Mann
@James Fitzgibbon

Daryl wants everyone to resign other than conservatives and for there to never be an election after conservative assume power.

David Allan
David Allan
@Daryl McBride

Everyone you don't like should resign.
Regardless of reality.
Understood.

David Amos
David Amos
@Daryl McBride "Watch the show, embarrassing."

Methinks whereas our taxes are funding this circus you might as well kick back and just enjoy the show N'esy Pas?












John Smith 
bill chagwich
does anyone believe Lametti???


Tarl Cabbot
Tarl Cabbot
@bill chagwich

Can anyone understand the reams of legal baffle-gab spewing from him?

george bath
george bath
@bill chagwich
I do bill
I respect the process

Cecil Row
Cecil Row
@Tarl Cabbot In brief he is only saying it depends-legalize for we get to do what we want.

Richard Riel
Richard Riel
@bill chagwich Does anybody believe the law and not justice of trudeau?

Tarl Cabbot
Tarl Cabbot
@george bath

I think most Canadians respect the process.
I think most Canadians believe, that, the process established, is a core base element for building a civilised society.

The allegations against Lavalin are evidence that a privileged select few have undue influence to change the process.

How can you believe Lametti, when he speaks incomprehensible legalese?

Tim Joseph
Tim Joseph
@bill chagwich Guess not the yellow vests.

David Allan
David Allan
@bill chagwich
"oes anyone believe Lametti???"

He's a Conservative.

Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

In office
May 5, 2006[2] – July 11, 2014

Garth Buhr
Garth Buhr
@David Allan You are thinking of the wrong person.

Jack O Hill
Jack O Hill
@David Allan

"Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development "

That identifies him as a senior bureaucrat. It does NOT identify political affiliation.

David Amos
David Amos
@bill chagwich "does anyone believe Lametti???"

When was the last time you believed a lawyer?



John Sweet
John Sweet
@David Allan Lametti is the Liberal Attorney General. Try to keep your players straight.





https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/snc-lavalin-wilson-raybould-trudeau-wernick-1.5030928



Under pressure: Inside an explosive week in the SNC-Lavalin controversy

We're learning more all the time about what led to Wilson-Raybould's resignation - and what might come next


Liberal MP Jody Wilson-Raybould addressed the federal cabinet a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's principle secretary Gerald Butts steped down from his position. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)


Before Jody Wilson-Raybould could state her case to her ex-cabinet colleagues on Tuesday, she first had to make her case directly to the prime minister.

And so, on a frosty Ottawa morning, Wilson-Raybould and her former chief of staff, Jessica Prince, walked into the prime minister's West Block offices for a private meeting with Justin Trudeau, his chief of staff, Katie Telford, and Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick.

It was the morning after Gerald Butts had publicly announced his resignation as Trudeau's principal secretary. The very apex of the Liberal government was reeling — and now Wilson-Raybould wanted to walk into the cabinet room a week after she had walked out of cabinet.


Her pitch was simple. She wanted to explain her side of the SNC-Lavalin affair to the inner circle she had quit on February 12.

Trudeau eventually agreed to bring her request to the full cabinet. Ministers debated the matter for two hours while Wilson-Raybould waited outside.

Multiple sources tell CBC News that some cabinet ministers were concerned about the optics of letting Wilson-Raybould attend a meeting of the inner circle just a week after she'd quit cabinet.

They eventually consented to Wilson-Raybould's unprecedented appearance but — as Wernick revealed in his extraordinary testimony before the Commons justice committee this week — Attorney General David Lametti left the cabinet room to avoid any potential conflict.

No apologies


Sources described WIlson-Raybould as unapologetic during her cabinet room appearance. People inside the room, and those later briefed on the conversation, confirm that Wilson-Raybould told the cabinet she felt she had been pressured improperly to help SNC-Lavalin, something first reported by the Globe and Mail.


Embedded video
Jody Wilson-Raybould has been clear that she's ready to tell her side of the story in the SNC-Lavalin scandal. But what's standing in her way? Salimah Shiviji explains the complex situation.



The specifics of what Wilson-Raybould said in cabinet were not shared with CBC News, but Wernick's testimony likely shed some light on what was said. The clerk typically attends cabinet meetings, and Wernick was at this one.

"I predict that the former attorney-general will express concern to this committee about three events. The first is the meeting with the prime minister," Wernick told MPs on the justice committee Thursday.
"The second is a conversation between the Prime Minister's Office staff and her former chief of staff when she was minister of justice on Dec 18. And the third is a conversation that I had with her in the afternoon of Dec. 19."

Wernick's testimony was a broad defence of the conduct of the government he serves. His arguments have done nothing to resolve the partisan debate surrounding the SNC-Lavalin controversy.

But that particular bit of testimony helped clarify the timeline of the key fracture points that led to Wilson-Raybould's resignation from cabinet and Butts' departure as the prime minister's top adviser.

What did the staffers say?


Wernick corroborated the prime minister's account of the Sept. 17 meeting with Wilson-Raybould. He said Trudeau asked for the meeting to discuss the slow pace of legislation central to the government's Indigenous reconciliation agenda. When Wilson-Raybould asked Trudeau about SNC-Lavalin, Wernick said, the PM assured his then-attorney general that any decision was hers to make.

​"He indicated that it was entirely her call to make, that she was the decider," Wernick testified. "And that is a message the PM conveyed to the minister on every situation that I'm aware of that came up."
There were no politicians at the Dec. 18 meeting — just political staff. A senior government official confirms the meeting was between Prince, Butts and Telford.
If that's the case, then Wernick's call to Wilson-Raybould the very next day would have been especially unwelcome.

"I conveyed to her that a lot of her colleagues and the prime minister were quite anxious," Wernick said to the committee.  "There were a lot of people worried about what would happen, the consequences, not for her, the consequences for the (SNC-Lavalin) workers and the communities and the suppliers."

Many senior Liberals feel Wernick did a good job of defending the government's conduct in the SNC-Lavalin controversy. They argue the clerk was able to do what the prime minister should have done from the beginning: lay out, in plain language, the case for significant government action to protect 9,000 SNC-Lavalin jobs while also respecting the rule of law.

Others aren't so sure. CBC News has learned that a group of cabinet ministers gathered at Environment Minister Catherine McKenna's Ottawa Centre home on Thursday night to assess the fallout from Wernick's testimony.

A 'strong basis' for investigation


Some critics have described Wernick's comments as overly partisan. The Conservatives suggest they form the basis of a police investigation.

​"There is certainly a strong basis to be made for an RCMP investigation," Conservative MP Michael Cooper said Friday. "I think that what the evidence of Mr. Wernick before the justice committee confirms is that the allegations of political interference in the prosecution of SNC Lavalin are supported."

Meanwhile, Liberal backbenchers remain largely in the dark about the specifics of what happened — and what might happen next.
Several Liberal MPs told CBC News they are convinced Wilson-Raybould is determined to bring down the prime minister and this entire controversy is a way to settle scores over being demoted to Veterans Affairs. They hold that view even though Wilson-Raybould assured the Liberal caucus on Wednesday that she was on the Liberal team and supports the Liberal agenda.

Other caucus members believe her motives are more personal than that. They praise Wilson-Raybould as extremely principled while also criticizing her as rigid.

Only Wilson-Raybould herself can say for sure. She'll get that chance when she testifies at the justice committee next week. It still isn't clear whether the questions about how solicitor-client privilege applies to her will be resolved before her appearance.

Wilson-Raybould kept notes


What is clear is that she has an important story to tell — and it is likely to be well-documented. Multiple government sources say Wilson-Raybould is a prodigious note-taker, making copious written accounts of nearly every meeting she attends.

When she resigned from cabinet, multiple sources say, the Prime Minister's Office did a thorough vet of their own notes and records to see if there was anything that could cause them trouble. Wernick argued in his testimony that no one in PMO crossed a line

"So, I can tell you with complete assurance that my view of those conversations is that they were within the boundaries of what is lawful and appropriate," Wernick said.

At this point, it seems unlikely that Wilson-Raybould would agree.



CBC News
Full statement by Michael Wernick

 ‘I'm here to say to you that the Globe and Mail article contains errors, unfounded speculation and, in some cases, is simply defamatory,’ Wernick, Clerk of the Privy Council, said. 5:31

With files from Chris Hall








https://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/snc-lavalin-1.5028630




Liberals will get to the bottom of the SNC-Lavalin affair — once the Liberals get out of the way: Robyn Urback

On Wednesday, Liberal MPs defeated a motion calling on Trudeau to waive solicitor-client privilege


Ever since Trudeau's unambiguous denial of a question that wasn’t asked, the government’s line on the SNC-Lavalin matter has been consistent and clear: We would like to tell you more, but we simply can’t, because we are choosing not to. (Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)


The Liberal government, according to the Liberal government, absolutely wants to get to the bottom of the SNC-Lavalin affair. The problem is the Liberal government is standing in the way. What's a government to do?

The question at the centre of this saga is whether former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould was pressured by anyone in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to seek a deferred prosecution agreement in the criminal case involving Quebec engineering giant SNC-Lavalin.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been unequivocal in his answer. It's just that he's been answering a different question: No one directedher to secure a particular resolution.


But did anyone pressure her?
No one "directed" her.

Don't be confused. Ever since that unambiguous denial of a question that wasn't asked, the government's line on the matter has been consistent and clear: We would like to tell you more, but we simply can't, because we are choosing not to.

Solicitor-client privilege​


Last week, the Liberal majority on the Commons justice committee blocked efforts to call relevant witnesses — including Wilson-Raybould and PMO senior advisers Gerald Butts (who resigned Monday) and Mathieu Bouchard — before the committee. Expanding the witness list to those who were actually involved in the pertinent conversations would be akin to a "witch hunt" and a "fishing expedition," explained Liberal MP Randy Boissonnault.
Instead, the committee would be calling legal experts, civil servants and the current attorney general, David Lametti, who had already said he has no direct knowledge of conversations between Wilson-Raybould and the PMO. The committee has not called anyone who can speak to the colour of the paint on the wall where these conversations took place, but alas, there is still time to add more witnesses. (Indeed, the committee eventually relented to calling Wilson-Raybould to testify after all.)



Politics News
Wernick says SNC-Lavalin's lobbying efforts failed
 Michael Wernick the Clerk of the Privy Council spoke to the Commons Justice committee Thursday 0:27


Proceedings began on Thursday, when Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick testified that the conversations with Wilson-Raybould about SNC-Lavalin were lawful and appropriate. He repeated the prime minister's line that if she felt pressure — due to the multiple conversations in which it was emphasized that the wrong decision on the matter could have dire economic consequences in Quebec — she should have reported it to the ethics commissioner.

Wilson-Raybould has not been able to publicly give her side of the story because, as she has noted previously, she is bound by solicitor-client privilege. The prime minister can waive that privilege should he choose, but he has not for a reason he has not coherently articulated other than to say he is discussing the matter with the current attorney general. During his testimony Thursday, Lametti was tight-lipped about his efforts on the matter, saying he himself is bound by solicitor-client privilege.

Attorney General David Lametti, who took over the job from Jody Wilson-Raybould, provided little new information Thursday, saying he is bound by solicitor-client privilege. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Now, the Liberals have been clear that they want to get to the bottom of this. It's just that all of the ways that have been proposed are not the correct ways to do so. They include a motion tabled by NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus calling for a public inquiry on the matter and for the prime minister to waive privilege to allow Wilson-Raybould to speak. All but two Liberals voted against the motion Wednesday.

Earlier that day, Wilson-Raybould reportedly told cabinet, according to a Globe and Mail source, that she experienced inappropriate pressure from the PMO on SNC-Lavalin. Meaning that, within the span of a few hours, cabinet reportedly heard from Wilson-Raybould that she was improperly pressured, then voted against a motion to allow her to say that publicly.

Move to Veterans Affairs


There are questions the prime minister may answer on the matter that don't involve privilege or require him to speak directly on SNC-Lavalin's criminal case. They include why Wilson-Raybould was moved from the Justice Department to Veterans Affairs even though other ministers maintained their posts during the last cabinet shuffle.
The prime minister has noted there are a "range of factors" that go into any decision to move a minister, but did not elaborate on the particular factors in Wilson-Raybould's case. There is no directive that requires Trudeau to keep this information confidential, but it nevertheless appears he is constrained by the parliamentary convention colloquially known as "I'm Not Telling You Anything Else Because I Don't Want To."

Indeed, if you trust the Liberals' words instead of their actions, it is clear they want to fulfil their promise of transparency; to free up Wilson-Raybould to "speak my truth," as she requested in the House this week; to call upon all the relevant witnesses to testify; to allow a full and thorough public investigation. The problem is, the Liberals keep getting in the way. Alas, what is a Liberal government to do?


This column is part of CBC's Opinion section. For more information about this section, please read our FAQ.

About the Author

 


Robyn Urback
Columnist
Robyn Urback is an opinion columnist with CBC News and a producer with the CBC's Opinion section. She previously worked as a columnist and editorial board member at the National Post. Follow her on Twitter at:





'Pay close heed' to words of top bureaucrat on SNC-Lavalin affair, Trudeau says

Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick said Thursday there was no inappropriate pressure on Wilson-Raybould

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke at Memorial University as part of his visit to St. John's on Friday. (CBC)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians should "pay heed" to the country's top civil servant, who testified Thursday there was no inappropriate pressure placed on Jody Wilson-Raybould to override a decision to prosecute SNC-Lavalin.

Taking questions from reporters after an event in St. John's today, where he visited the Core Science Facility under construction at Memorial University, Trudeau called Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick an "extraordinary public servant" who has served Canada with "integrity and brilliance."

Wernick told the justice committee probing the SNC-Lavalin affair that he warned Wilson-Raybould — who was justice minister at the time — that there would be economic "consequences" from prosecuting SNC-Lavalin, including big job losses. But he maintained that he, Trudeau and officials in the Prime Minister's Office did not impose any inappropriate pressure on the minister.

Asked why Wernick and PMO officials pressed Wilson-Raybould to consider what was at stake in an SNC-Lavalin prosecution — given that the decision had been made already to proceed with that prosecution — Trudeau said the government has a fundamental responsibility to preserve jobs and promote economic growth while respecting the rule of law and an independent judiciary.
"That is something this government has always done," he said. "I would recommend that people pay close heed to the words of the clerk of the Privy Council. His service to this country over decades in the public service leaves him well-positioned to understand what institutions are grounded in, and make sure that we're doing the right things as a government."
The Public Prosecution Service told SNC-Lavalin on Sept. 4, 2018, that it would not negotiate with the company on a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, which would have applied alternative penalties to avoid criminal proceedings against the Quebec-based global engineering firm on bribery and fraud charges related to contracts in Libya.

Wernick said he called Wilson-Raybould on Dec. 19, 2018, to discuss various issues — including the option of a remediation agreement.


CBC News
"Pay close heed" to Wernick testimony, Trudeau says
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau endorses the testimony of Canada's top public servant, Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick, in the SNC Lavalin affair during an appearance in St. John's Friday. 0:51
During that call, Wernick said he spoke of the implications of prosecuting the company for employees, suppliers and communities. He said he told Wilson-Raybould that the prime minister and "a lot of her colleagues" were anxious about what they were hearing and reading in business media — articles warning that the company could close down or move if criminal proceedings went ahead.

Pressured to 'get it right'


"I am quite sure the minister felt pressured to get it right, and part of my conversation with her on Dec. 19 was conveying context that there were a lot of people worried about what would happen ... the consequences not for her, the consequences for the workers, and the communities and the suppliers," he told MPs on Thursday.

Wernick said he did not cross any line in his exchanges with Wilson-Raybould, insisting the conversations were "lawful and appropriate."

The justice committee is examining the growing controversy touched off by a Feb. 7 Globe and Mail report that said Trudeau's aides attempted to press Wilson-Raybould to intervene in the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, and that exasperation with her lack of co-operation was one reason for shuffling her out of the Justice portfolio.

Former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould is expected to testify at the Commons justice committee next week. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
Wilson-Raybould has remained silent on the issue, citing solicitor-client privilege. This week, she told the House of Commons that privilege is not hers to waive, and she hopes she is able to speak her "truth."

Opposition Conservatives and New Democrats have been demanding the prime minister waive privilege so Wilson-Raybould can speak freely when she appears before the committee, which she is expected to do next week.

Wernick said Thursday he doesn't believe Wilson-Raybould is bound by solicitor-client privilege, but Trudeau said again on Friday that there are serious implications at play.

"This is something we do have to take very seriously because it's a fundamental part of our justice system and, indeed, in this case there are two ongoing court cases," he said.

Wilson-Raybould's successor, Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti, is reviewing the matter, but has offered no indication of when he could provide advice to the prime minister on privilege.


CBC News
Trudeau questioned on solicitor-client privilege
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says waiving solicitor-client privilege is a complicated matter and doesn't want to impact the two ongoing court cases involved in the SNC-Lavalin affair while taking questions from reporters during an appearance in St John's Friday. 1:15
As the controversy around SNC-Lavalin heats up, the company itself is facing headwinds. It reported Friday that it had slashed its dividend by 65 per cent and recorded a fourth-quarter loss of $1.6 billion.

The company said it will now pay a quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share, compared to its earlier payment of 28.7 cents per share.

'A political hockey game'


SNC-Lavalin CEO Neil Bruce told a news conference today that the company and its current employees have done nothing wrong.

"Our employees are being used as puck in political hockey game," he said. "They don't deserve it and, frankly, we've had enough."

Bruce said the company requested that the charges against it be "circumvented" through a remediation agreement — that it didn't ask for them to be dropped entirely. He argues that a remediation arrangement would be in the public's interest.

The company will "vigorously defend" itself in court, Bruce said.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau was asked Friday whether he thinks SNC-Lavalin can survive if the criminal prosecution proceeds.

"I really can't speak about the potential success of any individual business," he said in Toronto after meeting with private sector economists. "I think in the case of SNC-Lavalin, it's an organization that's been very successful over a long period of time and we obviously want to see a business like that, that employs that many Canadians, continue to be successful."


CBC News
Morneau questioned on SNC-Lavalin business
 Finance Minister Bill Morneau faced questions on whether he thinks SNC-Lavalin could survive if faced with criminal prosecution while visiting George Brown College in Toronto. 0:56






https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/raybould-wernick-framework-1.5029144



Wilson-Raybould battled Bennett, other ministers over Indigenous rights framework

Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick denied Globe and Mail report he rebuked Wilson-Raybould over speeches

Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick said former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, right, battled Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, left, and other ministers over an Indigenous rights framework. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

The federal government's top bureaucrat revealed Thursday that Jody Wilson-Raybould, the former Justice minister, was locked in a fierce battle with Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and other ministers over the direction of a promised piece of legislation central to the government's reconciliation agenda.

Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick said a Sept. 17, 2018, meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Wilson-Raybould, which has emerged as a key event in the SNC-Lavalin affair, was actually in response to cabinet tensions over the direction of the promised recognition and implementation of an Indigenous rights framework.

The framework was meant to enshrine the Constitution's section 35, which affirms Aboriginal rights, in federal law, allowing First Nations to reconstitute their governance structures outside the Indian Act.

 Trudeau announced the framework during a speech in the House of Commons in February 2018.


Wernick said the prime minister met with Wilson-Raybould to discuss "very serious policy differences" between the former justice minister, Bennett and other ministers over the framework.

"He was aware because he had been briefed both by the Privy Council Office and his political staff that there was something of a policy standoff among his ministers," said Wernick during testimony before the justice committee, Thursday.

"There were different views on a very significant thing. And we were trying to find a way, essentially I would call it a form of conciliation or mediation, to bring people together."
The committee is holding hearings into the SNC-Lavalin affair, which were triggered by a Globe and Mail report that alleged Wilson-Raybould was pressured by the PMO to intervene in the criminal prosecution of the Montreal-based engineering giant.

Wilson-Raybould is expected to testify next week.

Wernick said that he took the lead on the Indigenous framework file because Trudeau and senior PMO officials were consumed by trade negotiations with the U.S.

He said Trudeau was growing "impatient" in September with the slow pace of work on the framework, which was then facing a nascent organized resistance that echoed the early days of the Idle No More movement.

"He was concerned we were losing momentum and traction heading into the last year of the mandate on the rights framework," said Wernick.

Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick waits to appear before the Justice Committee meeting on Feb. 21. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
Trudeau, Wernick and Wilson-Raybould's meeting on Sept. 17, 2018, came about a week after the Assembly of First Nations held a forum to discuss the framework. The forum turned disastrous for the federal government after Crown-Indigenous Relations officials released a draft discussion paper that was widely panned by First Nations leaders as "insulting," boosting grassroots opposition to the initiative.

AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde said in a Sept. 11 speech during the forum that the Trudeau government, which wanted to introduce the framework by the fall, needed to slow down the process.

First Nations leaders wanted Wilson-Raybould to lead file


In a speech at the University of Saskatchewan on Sept. 13, Wilson-Raybould seemed to take a swipe at the discussion paper on the rights framework produced by Bennett's department.

"But words are also easy, cheap ... too often we see the tendency — especially in politics — to use important words that have real meaning and importance, carelessly," said Wilson-Raybould, according to a transcript of her speech.

"We see 'recognition' applied to ideas that actually maintain 'denial.' We see 'self-government' used to refer to ideas or processes that actually maintain control over others."

A month earlier, in late August, high-profile First Nations leaders and legal experts wrote a letter to Trudeau calling for a reset of how Bennett was handling the co-development process for the framework.

The letter stated a preference for dealing with Wilson-Raybould to place the process on "the proper path."

Bennett had led the engagement process with Indigenous groups across the country following Trudeau's speech in the House of Commons on Feb. 14, 2018 announcing the framework.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Wilson-Raybould while she was justice minister to discuss a 'policy standoff' with Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett, left. (Adrian Wyld/CP)
Bennett was caught up in a mini-scandal that July during the AFN election in Vancouver — where the framework became a campaign issue — after she met with Alberta chiefs on the same morning ballots were being cast for the next national chief.
Wernick said the Sept. 17 meeting between Trudeau and Wilson-Raybould marked the beginning of the end of efforts to table the framework that fall. He said the issue was then referred to the cabinet sub-committee on reconciliation and later to cabinet.

"There was a decision not to proceed with the rights and recognition framework," he said.
CBC News reported in mid-November that the framework would not be tabled.

Wernick said cabinet had decided to focus on the promised Indigenous languages legislation, which was tabled in late January, and Indigenous child welfare legislation, which has yet to be put on the notice paper.

First Nation drummers pound out a song during a rally on Parliament Hill on Dec. 4, 2018, held to protest the framework. (Jorge Barrera/CBC)
On Nov. 29, Wilson-Raybould delivered a speech in Vancouver where she expressed frustration with the resistance she faced within government in her push for Indigenous rights.

"Within government, when discussing matters of Indigenous rights, one still often finds a seeming disproportionate focus on 'risk' — speculation that the sky may fall," Wilson-Raybould said, according to a transcript of the speech.

Wilson-Raybould didn't want to be 'Indian Agent'


Bennett's office, referring to a December 2018 statement on the issue, indicated that the government is still committed to getting the framework "right," while pushing other policy changes.

In his testimony, Wernick praised Bennett and defended her against "vile" social media criticisms.

"I am deeply hurt on behalf of Minister Bennett that her reputation has been trolled over the last little while," said Wernick. "There has been no Canadian who has worked harder on Indigenous reconciliation than the honourable Carolyn Bennett."

Wernick also denied a Globe and Mail report that said he privately rebuked Wilson-Raybould over her speeches on Indigenous rights.

"I am telling you, it didn't happen," he said.

Wernick said he has known Wilson-Raybould for 15 years and considered her a "partner, ally and friend." He said Wilson-Raybould never wanted to take on any Indigenous affairs roles in cabinet because she didn't want to be the "Indian agent" over her people.

"We walked the path together ... through many episodes in the journey toward Indigenous reconciliation," said Wernick.

About the Author

 

Jorge Barrera
Reporter
Jorge Barrera is a Caracas-born, award-winning journalist who has worked across the country and internationally. He works for CBC's Indigenous unit based out of Ottawa. Follow him on Twitter @JorgeBarrera or email him jorge.barrera@cbc.ca.




https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/michael-wernick-clerk-privy-council-1.5029212




Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick: What's his job description? How much power does he hold?

As SNC-Lavalin scandal continues, Wernick's appearance before MPs shines light on key government role

Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick is holding down a job that he says has existed in the Westminster parliamentary system for 800 years. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick sat before a committee of MPs Thursday and explained that he was holding a position that has existed in one form or another for 800 years.

While Canada has been a country for a much shorter period, in the U.K. the privy council has served to advise monarchs on legislation, justice and the functioning of government for centuries.

Wernick's appearance before the justice committee served to open the door of Canada's "private council" and shed some light on the role of the privy council clerk in a democratically elected government.

In Canada, the clerk holds three positions. The first is to act as the deputy minister for the prime minister, fulfilling a bureaucratic role. The second is to be secretary of the federal cabinet and the third is to act as the head of the federal public service.
Wernick laid out that part of the job but more importantly he detailed how he fulfilled those roles with respect to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office in the ongoing court case involving SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.
The committee asked Wernick to appear because it is examining whether Trudeau or someone in his office tried to pressure Jody Wilson-Raybould — when she held the dual role of attorney general and justice minister — to allow SNC-Lavalin to avoid charges on corruption and fraud by offering it the option of a remediation agreement as an alternative to prosecution.

Wernick said that he did, in fact, speak with Wilson-Raybould about the decision to prosecute the firm, making the case that there would be economic consequences for the Montréal-based company and its 9,000 plus Canadian employees if she chose to disregard the remediation option.

While no former clerks of the privy council would speak to CBC News on the record, a source with intimate knowledge of the position explained that making a strong case to Wilson-Raybould to seek remediation was an entirely justified position for the clerk to take.

Clerks 'want good decision making'


The source said that the clerk's role, in a sense, makes them responsible for cabinet decision making by ensuring the appropriate steps are taken to execute cabinet decisions.

The clerk also has the responsibility to ensure that the public interest is considered in cabinet decisions.
"It is perfectly legitimate for the clerk to call the attorney general and and say: 'have you considered employment in Montreal' in the decision they are going to make," the source said.

Watch Michael Wernick address MPs:


Wernick says there was no inappropriate pressure on Wilson-Raybould
 Michael Wernick the Clerk of the Privy Council spoke to the Commons Justice committee on Thursday 3:39
The attorney general, however, can disregard the public interest under the law, the source said, if it is determined that a person at the centre of a case has been found guilty of corrupting foreign officials. But the clerk still provides the advice.

"An effective clerk will make sure that ministers have these facts because they also want good decision making. They want everything on the table for them to take into account," David McLaughlin, a former chief of staff to Brian Mulroney and deputy minister to New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord, told CBC News Network's Power & Politics.

Appropriate vs. inappropriate pressure


The source also said that the line between appropriate pressure and pressure that crosses the line is not complicated.

If, in the case of Wilson-Raybould, the prime minister told her that she had to make a specific decision or she would be kicked out of cabinet, that would be crossing the line, the source said.

Watch David McLaughlin discuss the job of privy council clerk:


Power and Politics
Wernick's testimony: SNC-Lavalin controversy
 Brian Mulroney's former chief of staff David McLaughlin weighs in on the first day of the justice committee's probe. 8:23
But the level of pressure would be appropriate, and just, if the prime minister told Wilson-Raybould that she should take the weekend to really think over her decision because prosecuting SNC-Lavalin could put thousands of people out of work and potentially sink an important Canadian company.

"There is nothing wrong with that whatsoever, and it doesn't matter who the prime minister uses as his messenger, whether it's the clerk, a member of the PMO's staff or [he] tells the minister himself," the source said.

Cabinet confidence


The clerk is also responsible for determining what documents or discussions are covered by cabinet confidence and ensuring that cabinet confidences persist. All of his rulings are final and cannot be appealed to a court.

So if the clerk decides that a conversation or written correspondence between two ministers or a minister and the prime minister are a cabinet confidence, then the content of that discussion remains confidential.

"His job is not political at all," said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. "I'll define the clerk this way: it's operationally oriented but politically sensitive. In contrast, the Prime Minister's Office is politically oriented but has to be operationally sensitive."

Wiseman said the role is "absolutely non-partisan."

That's something McLaughlin said Wernick demonstrated well during his appearance at committee. While the position is non-partisan, the prime minister can appoint whomever he wants to the role.
Wernick, it should be noted, was appointed to the position of deputy clerk of the privy council and associate secretary to cabinet by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper and promoted to clerk by Trudeau.

"His job is not to give political advice," said Wiseman.

The clerk is there to anticipate issues or concerns that will arise as a direct result of policy decisions and to inform the prime minister of what those are.

"That's part of the background analysis, basically trying to assess what will be the consequences of a particular decision, what are the pros, what are the cons," said Yan Campagnolo, assistant law professor at the University of Ottawa. "Certainly that's something that public servants do in general, and the clerk is at the top of the pyramid."

Watch Wernick criticize media coverage of the SNC-Lavalin case: 


CBC News
Full statement by Michael Wernick
 ‘I'm here to say to you that the Globe and Mail article contains errors, unfounded speculation and, in some cases, is simply defamatory,’ Wernick, Clerk of the Privy Council, said. 5:31







Top civil servant slams SNC-Lavalin media report as erroneous, 'defamatory'

Privy Council Office clerk Michael Wernick delivers blunt testimony at justice committee


Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick appeared before the Justice Committee meeting in Ottawa, Thursday February 21, 2019. (Adrian Wyld/THE CANADIAN PRESS)


Canada's top civil servant has refuted a bombshell media report that alleged political interference in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, claiming it included "errors" and "unfounded speculation" and was "defamatory."

Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick was referring to a Feb. 7 Globe and Mail report that touched off a political scandal and triggered the resignation of cabinet minister Jody Wilson-Raybould and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's principal secretary, Gerry Butts.

"I'm here to say to you that the Globe and Mail article contains errors, unfounded speculation and, in some cases, is simply defamatory," he said.

The article — citing unnamed, anonymous sources — said that Trudeau's aides attempted to press Wilson-Raybould, while attorney general, to intervene in the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, and that exasperation with her lack of co-operation was one reason for shuffling her out of the justice portfolio.

Wernick said he never witnessed any inappropriate pressure on Wilson-Raybould by Trudeau or any officials in the PMO.



CBC News
Full statement by Michael Wernick

 ‘I'm here to say to you that the Globe and Mail article contains errors, unfounded speculation and, in some cases, is simply defamatory,’ Wernick, Clerk of the Privy Council, said. 5:31


"At every opportunity, verbally and in writing in December, the prime minister made it clear that this was the decision for the minister of justice to take. She was the decision-maker," he said.

Wernick, who met with representatives of SNC-Lavalin on Sept. 18, 2018 — after the company had been turned down on its request to avoid criminal proceedings — said the firm was "making the rounds" to make a pitch to avoid prosecution. He said he could not remember whether the company advised him that it had been told the Public Prosecution Service of Canada had rejected its request.

In a Dec. 19, 2018 call with Wilson-Raybould, Wernick said he provided information on the SNC-Lavalin file based partly on reports in the business press warning the company could close or move if the prosecution went ahead. That could have major implications for employees, suppliers and pensioners, he said.

"I can tell you with complete assurance that my view of those conversations is that they were within the boundaries of what's lawful and appropriate. I was informing the minister of context. She may have another view of the conversation, but that's something the ethics commissioner could sort out," he said.

Wernick repeatedly insisted there was no inappropriate pressure placed on Wilson-Raybould at any time — but if she felt that she was being put under pressure, she could have filed a complaint with the ethics commissioner or reported any perceived wrongdoing to the prime minister.

In his opening remarks to the committee, Wernick said he's worried about the state of politics in Canada right now, citing the threat of foreign interference in the coming election and the use of words like 'treason' and 'traitor' in political discourse.

"Those are the words that lead to assassination," he said. "I'm worried that somebody's going to get shot this year during the political campaign."

Earlier today, Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti told the committee he has never faced inappropriate pressure from the prime minister or anyone in the PMO, and would take action if any official tried to direct his actions improperly.

In the hot seat as the first witness in justice committee hearings on the SNC-Lavalin affair, Lametti said he would not "speculate" on "what others might or might not do" but would only explain how he would respond to political pressure.

"I would take, under the circumstances, a number of different actions," he said.

Trudeau appointed Lametti to the post in a January cabinet shuffle that demoted Wilson-Raybould from the Department of Justice to Veterans Affairs.

She resigned from that position a week later, just days after the Globe and Mail reported that she had been pressured by officials in the Prime Minister's Office to stop criminal prosecution against SNC-Lavalin, a Quebec-based global engineering and construction firm facing charges of bribery and fraud related to contracts in Libya.
The Globe and Mail said PMO officials pressed her to direct the Public Prosecution Service of Canada to draft a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) — a legal tool resembling a plea deal — for SNC-Lavalin.

The Liberal government changed the Criminal Code in 2018 to introduce such remediation agreements as an option for cases of corporate wrongdoing in Canada.

Lametti said the legislative regime was addressing a perceived "gap" in the law and is meant to hold corporations to account while protecting bystanders who could be harmed by a criminal prosecution and possible bankruptcy — such as a corporation's employees, subcontractors and third-party suppliers.

Similar compliance tools — which can impose fines in lieu of prosecution — are also available in the U.S. and the U.K.

Lametti said he only had general knowledge of the SNC-Lavalin case before he was appointed to cabinet and did not discuss it with Trudeau before his appointment.

Nathalie Drouin, deputy justice minister and deputy attorney general also appeared at the committee.
Conservative deputy leader and justice critic Lisa Raitt pointed to a Globe and Mail report published today which says Wilson-Raybould told federal cabinet ministers Tuesday she believed it was improper for PMO officials to press her to help SNC-Lavalin avoid criminal prosecution.

Wilson-Raybould took the unprecedented step of requesting permission to address cabinet, and was allowed to do so after vigorous debate among ministers.
Raitt said if the account in the Globe and Mail is accurate, Lametti has a responsibility to act.

"If he believes a former attorney general was improperly pressured — he has testimony of that from her, as was being reported by the Globe and Mail — then he has a greater burden than being loyal to the cabinet. At that point in time he's got a loyalty to the country," she told CBC News.

Polling fallout


The political fallout since the Feb. 7 Globe and Mail report has been heavy for the Trudeau government.

The opposition Conservatives and NDP have called for a public inquiry and have demanded Trudeau waive solicitor-client privilege so Wilson-Raybould can speak freely on the matter during her appearance before the committee, expected sometime next week.

The CBC's Poll Tracker, an aggregation of all publicly available polls, shows the scandal is taking a toll on the Liberals. It puts the Liberals and Conservatives neck-and-neck in voting intentions and virtually tied in the number of seats each party would be likely to win if an election were held today.

On Wednesday, Wilson-Raybould abstained from a vote in the House of Commons on an NDP motion calling for an inquiry because she was personally involved in the matter. She said she can't waive client-solicitor privilege on her own.

"I understand fully that Canadians want to know the truth and want transparency," she said. "Privilege and confidentiality are not mine to waive, and I hope that I have the opportunity to speak my truth."
Raitt said she is convinced public pressure will mount for a public inquiry.

During an event in Halifax Thursday, Trudeau said he remains "surprised and disappointed" by Wilson-Raybould's resignation from cabinet. He cited cabinet confidentiality and said the government is working to create good jobs and protect an independent judiciary.

"We will always do that in the right way," he said.

Lametti said the issue of waiving solicitor-client privilege is "complexed and layered." He said he is seeking a way to ensure transparency and fairness without compromising cabinet confidentiality or legal proceedings, but could not say if he would made a decision before Wilson-Raybould appears at committee..


Politics News
Trudeau asked about Wilson-Raybould in NS


 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes a stop in Dartmouth and is asked about Justin Wilson-Raybould by the CBC's Paul Withers 1:54









https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tasker-michael-wernick-partisan-going-be-shot-1.5028503


'Somebody is going to be shot': Top bureaucrat says partisan mudslinging has gone too far

'I'm deeply concerned about my country right now and its politics,' Michael Wernick says

Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick waits to appear before the Justice Committee meeting in Ottawa, Thursday February 21, 2019. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Canada's most senior federal public servant says he is worried about the nation and the state of its political discourse — fearing it has sunk to such lows that it could lead to an assassination attempt during the next federal election campaign.

Michael Wernick, the clerk of the Privy Council of Canada — the man tasked with serving the prime minister and his cabinet — prefaced his testimony on the SNC-Lavalin affair with commentary on what he describes as a "vomitorium of social media" fuelled by unreasonable partisans who have been dangerously whipped up by politicians.

"I'm deeply concerned about my country right now and its politics and where it's headed," Wernick told the Commons justice committee today.


It is unusual for a civil servant of his stature to speak so candidly in such a public forum.

Wernick, a career public servant who has worked in senior roles under both Conservative and Liberal prime ministers, said he finds recent remarks by Conservative Saskatchewan Sen. David Tkachuk at a recent rally particularly distasteful.



CBC News
Full statement by Michael Wernick

 ‘I'm here to say to you that the Globe and Mail article contains errors, unfounded speculation and, in some cases, is simply defamatory,’ Wernick, Clerk of the Privy Council, said. 5:31

 

While addressing the "United We Roll" convoy of Alberta truckers who travelled to Ottawa this week, Tkachuk said, "I know you've rolled all the way here, and I'm going to ask you one more thing: I want you to roll over every Liberal left in the country."

Tkachuk said that only then would two particularly controversial pieces of legislation — Bill C-48, the B.C. north coast tanker ban bill, and Bill C-69, the overhaul of environmental assessment legislation — be withdrawn.
"Because when they're gone, these bills are gone," he said.

While he didn't mention Tkachuk by name, Wernick made it clear that he was directing his comments at the senator.

"I think it's totally unacceptable that a member of the Parliament of Canada would incite people to drive trucks over people after what happened in Toronto last summer. Totally unacceptable. And I hope you, as parliamentarians, are going to condemn that," Wernick said.

In a statement to CBC News, Tkachuk said that while his comments "may not have been as artful" as he would have liked, he will not apologize for them.

The Saskatchewan senator said Liberals have "manufactured outrage" over his remarks in order to distract from the government's record on the oil and gas industry.

"When I said I wanted them to roll over every single Liberal, I meant it figuratively, not literally. I was referring to defeating every single Liberal in the upcoming election. I was not advocating violence and I think everybody knows that, except those for whom it serves a purpose to interpret them otherwise. Certainly the people at the rally knew what I meant," Tkachuk said in his statement.

"I know you've rolled all the way here, and I'm going to ask you one more thing: I want you to roll over every Liberal left in the country," Conservative Sen. David Tkachuk said at the United We Roll convoy rally in Ottawa, Ont. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

"It was a figure of speech. And just as the Minnesota defensive line, known as the 'purple people eaters', didn't actually eat people, and the Denver Broncos' 'orange crush' didn't actually crush people, and the Pittsburgh Steelers' 'steel curtain' offensive line wasn't actually steel, neither did I mean Liberals should be literally rolled over."

Wernick also took issue with the use of terms like "treason" and "traitor" to describe Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

There were placards and signs at the "United We Roll" rally that accused Trudeau of treason over his perceived disdain for the energy sector and his government's policies on immigration and asylum — policies described by some of those protests signs as embracing "open borders."


A protester stands below Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Wednesday, February 20, 2019. A convoy of angry Albertans and other westerners rolled up to Parliament Hill for a second day to protest federal energy and environmental policies. (Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)

"I worry about the rising tides of incitements to violence when people use terms like 'treason' and 'traitor' in open discourse. Those are the words that lead to assassination. I'm worried that somebody is going to be shot in this country this year during the political campaign," Wernick said.

The senior bureaucrat also defended Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett against critics who have been claiming online that she's ill-equipped to handle the Indigenous reconciliation file, saying nobody else in Canada has done more to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples than the Toronto-area minister.

Wernick said he also fears the SNC-Lavalin affair — and allegations published in the Globe and Mail that senior members of the Prime Minister's Office inappropriately pressured former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to cut a deal with the Quebec-based company so that it could avoid criminal prosecution —  will shake the faith of Canadians in their public institutions.

"Should Canadians be concerned about the rule of law in this country? No," Wernick said.

"I'm here to say to you that the Globe and Mail article contains errors, unfounded speculation and, in some cases, is simply defamatory."

Wernick testified Thursday he did not inappropriately influence Wilson-Raybould to pressure the director of public prosecutions to sign a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with SNC-Lavalin. Trudeau and his former principal secretary, Gerry Butts — who resigned this week in response to the allegations — have also denied any wrongdoing.

Conservative MP Michelle Rempel chided Wernick for his remarks Thursday, saying he overstepped in criticizing Conservative parliamentarians and the convoy.

"To any public servant watching Wernick — do not use him as your model on how to be a non-partisan professional," she tweeted.

Rempel said his remarks were "purposely designed to deflect reporting" from the larger SNC-Lavalin matter. (The CBC News story about that portion of the meeting can be found here.)
It's not Liberals alone who feel unfairly targeted by partisan vitriol. Conservative MPs have flagged previous remarks by Butts himself, Liberal MP Adam Vaughan and Finance Minister Bill Morneau (who was accused of calling Conservative deputy leader Lisa Raitt a "neanderthal") as wholly inappropriate.

Conserative MPs also have cited the prime minister's description of them as "ambulance chasers" — for questioning the transfer of child-killer Terri Lynne McClintic to a Saskatchewan healing lodge — as an unfair partisan potshot.

About the Author

 

John Paul Tasker
Parliamentary Bureau
John Paul (J.P.) Tasker is a reporter in the CBC's Parliamentary bureau in Ottawa. He can be reached at john.tasker@cbc.ca.

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