David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Methinks CBC or the LIEbrano Propaganda Machine asks another very dumb question to Canadians in light of that it is telling us how Trudeau The Younger is doing in the polls N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/03/did-trudeaus-non-apology-on-snc-lavalin.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/no-apology-trudeau-snc-lavalin-1.5047143
Did Trudeau's non-apology on SNC-Lavalin make his plight better, or worse?
Comments
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Kevan Cleverbridge (Hill 70)
Justin Trudeau has
crisscrossed this entire country apologizing,yet he won't apologize for
his own mistakes,this truly speaks of his character.
David Amos
@Kevan Cleverbridge (Hill 70) BINGO
Floyd Robertson
@Kevan Cleverbridge (Hill 70)
Hiring JWR was definitely a mistake. Butts was responsible for that and has paid for his mistake. End of story.
Hiring JWR was definitely a mistake. Butts was responsible for that and has paid for his mistake. End of story.
David Amos
@Kevan Cleverbridge (Hill 70) At the risk of being redundant
BINGO
BINGO
Richard Sharp
@Kevan Cleverbridge (Hill 70)
Trudeau is without doubt the most caring, honest and committed PM we have had in decades. Maybe you should rethink you bias:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2019/03/08/maybe-philpott-and-wilson-raybould-could-have-taken-one-for-the-liberal-team.html
Trudeau is without doubt the most caring, honest and committed PM we have had in decades. Maybe you should rethink you bias:
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2019/03/08/maybe-philpott-and-wilson-raybould-could-have-taken-one-for-the-liberal-team.html
Doug James
He'll apologize for something
that happened 150 years ago with a glistening tear running down his
cheek. But apologize for something that he personally was involved in..?
NEVER!
Allegra Logan
@Doug James
Happened 150yrs and still happening.
Happened 150yrs and still happening.
David Amos
@Doug James Mais Oui
David Amos
@Doug James "As far as international, I believe the general consensus of the other nations is summed up in "Oy Vey...".
True
True
Jean Caché
I feel I speak for the majority of Canadians when I say:
Mr. Trudeau, we .... Do not Trust you!
Mr. Trudeau, we .... Do not Trust you!
Wil Brown
@Craig Macneil - Actually, I
agree with you there. That last sentence should have finished "a really
lousy lot of front runners". Unfortunately, she remains mired for the
time being in the fringe because Canadians don't want to live a green
lifestyle. Most prefer being environmental swine so very few vote GPC.
Wil Brown
@Alison Harms - I haven't decided who I will vote for. I have only decided who I won't vote for.
David Amos
@Jean Caché "Mr. Trudeau, we .... Do not Trust you!"
I agree
I agree
David Amos
@steve wilson "that's hilarious! You "feel" like you speak for "all" Canadians".
NOT TRUE
Obviously he said he felt he spoke for the majority of Canadians and I know for a fact I am one of legions of citizens who do not trust Trudeau
NOT TRUE
Obviously he said he felt he spoke for the majority of Canadians and I know for a fact I am one of legions of citizens who do not trust Trudeau
Henry Wysmulek
Just resign all ready and stop embarrasing Canada!
John Bouy
@Henry Wysmulek just resign?
lol Ya, Guiado is in the wings waiting to take control of a position he
was not elected for .. again
Joe Opinion
@Lorne Hartman Lorne can you get some help with your stuttering "yup yup"
David Amos
@Joe Opinion Methinks he should consider it right after you get a real name N'esy Pas?
Matt Thuaii
@Henry Wysmulek
The fact that Trudeau is the target of such a strong attack campaign across all social media by internet brigades tells me he’s doing something right...
...looks like he should keep up that good work.
The fact that Trudeau is the target of such a strong attack campaign across all social media by internet brigades tells me he’s doing something right...
...looks like he should keep up that good work.
David Amos
@Matt Thuaii "The fact that
Trudeau is the target of such a strong attack campaign across all social
media by internet brigades tells me he’s doing something right... "
That is very strange logic even for you
That is very strange logic even for you
Gustav Labadie
@Matt Thuaii by your logic Trump is a God Emperor
Lloyd Browen
I find it amusing that the liberal posters here, knowing that Justin is done for, keep using the "but harper" nonsense.
When you're out of ammo - you fire blanks?
Amusing.
When you're out of ammo - you fire blanks?
Amusing.
Casper Whitehead
@Lloyd Browen
Deflection is all they've got left.
Deflection is all they've got left.
Verne Gerchin
@Jimmy Moore
"Yea well see who is done in Oct"
Well, given that the mainstream media is already speculating who will be liberal leader come October (Justin isn't on the list) - we WILL see who's done.
"Yea well see who is done in Oct"
Well, given that the mainstream media is already speculating who will be liberal leader come October (Justin isn't on the list) - we WILL see who's done.
David Amos
@Lloyd Browen "Amusing."
Welcome to the Circus
Welcome to the Circus
Stu Wozniak
@Lloyd Browen
Notice how the extreme right always thinks in terms of gunfire - F-35's etc. Guns and paranoia are the lifeblood of their thoughts.
This issue is about the integrity of Canadian law and how previous and current government abuses it (it's actually called being corrupt). Can it possibly be legal to be illegal - free of prosecution in a deferred prosecution agreement?
China says we don't handle it very well.
Notice how the extreme right always thinks in terms of gunfire - F-35's etc. Guns and paranoia are the lifeblood of their thoughts.
This issue is about the integrity of Canadian law and how previous and current government abuses it (it's actually called being corrupt). Can it possibly be legal to be illegal - free of prosecution in a deferred prosecution agreement?
China says we don't handle it very well.
David Amos
@Stu Wozniak "This issue is
about the integrity of Canadian law and how previous and current
government abuses it (it's actually called being corrupt)"
Methinks you should read my lawsuit N'esy Pas?
Methinks you should read my lawsuit N'esy Pas?
Joseph Cluster
Yes by the time 2015 rolled around JT was a breath of fresh air which has turned into halitosis.
Luke Armstrong
@Joseph Cluster
Lol!
Lol!
David Amos
@Joseph Cluster Oh So True
Richard Cyr
@Joseph Cluster
Justin had as many chances of being a breath of fresh air as that the Indian IT company that called me this morning had a chance of not being a scam.
Justin had as many chances of being a breath of fresh air as that the Indian IT company that called me this morning had a chance of not being a scam.
John Smith
@Joseph Cluster
Lack of ability is a hard think to hide as time passes.
Lack of ability is a hard think to hide as time passes.
Stanley Baird
@John Smith especially when
combined with arrogance in himself and those who he has surrounded
himself with - who knew they were all such legal experts without ever
going to law school or any other professional credentials or experience?
steve wilson
@John Smith ... try Grammerly.....
David Amos
@steve wilson Methinks I understood him as did you N'esy Pas?
Tony Trowel
Many words have used to describe the prime minister. The one that comes to mind is ‘phoney’.
David Amos
@Tony Trowel I prefer corrupt
Glenn Krobel
Trudeau is the embodiment of
everything’ he claims to stand against. And the antithesis of
everything he claims to stand for. I cannot understand how anyone would
still vote for him.
Peggy Heath
@Mark Burgoyne - it is
possible to Decline your ballot in Ontario. Voting for Ford was simply
wrong and many thousands of Ontarians Declined as a result of being
given no real choice.
I Declined my ballot in the last federal election because there was no candidate for whom I could bring myself to vote. We don't yet have the option of Declining in Federal elections but I will continue to refuse to vote for the kind of rubbish from which we are forced to make choices.
I am in the very fortunate position of being able to say I DIDN'T VOTE FOR TRUDEAU - YAY !! Good for me. And if the rest of you had followed my lead, we wouldn't be in this mess now.
I Declined my ballot in the last federal election because there was no candidate for whom I could bring myself to vote. We don't yet have the option of Declining in Federal elections but I will continue to refuse to vote for the kind of rubbish from which we are forced to make choices.
I am in the very fortunate position of being able to say I DIDN'T VOTE FOR TRUDEAU - YAY !! Good for me. And if the rest of you had followed my lead, we wouldn't be in this mess now.
Joan Watkins
@David Webb
Trudeau should step down for the sake of the party. There's still time for the Liberals to elect a new leader and carry on without him. Hopefully the Trudeau isn't the best they have to offer.
Trudeau should step down for the sake of the party. There's still time for the Liberals to elect a new leader and carry on without him. Hopefully the Trudeau isn't the best they have to offer.
David Amos
@Peggy Heath FYI in the six
elections I ran in thus far just last year was I permitted to vote for
myself and most folks don't even know I was ever on a ballot Here is a
good example
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276
Any further responses from JT
on this topic will be non authentic and contrived... He has missed the
boat on this and will pay the price at the next election or sooner
Norman Neil
@Joe Opinion
Why? Because he didn't confirm Scheer's conspiracy theory?
Why? Because he didn't confirm Scheer's conspiracy theory?
@Norman Neil It is a shame the election is not until October. Drama teaching positions will have been already filled by then!
Norman Neil
@Barry Odonnell
The only drama I see is coming from Scheer and his supporters...
The only drama I see is coming from Scheer and his supporters...
David Amos
@Joe Opinion Methinks it must be nice to have an opinion when one claims to be one as well N'esy Pas?
Buford Wilson
What is he trying to hide.
Justin needs to come clean with Canadians about this matter.
Justin needs to come clean with Canadians about this matter.
Jose Smith
@Buford Wilson
He probably won,t because his ego gets in the way
He probably won,t because his ego gets in the way
Casper Whitehead
@Neil Gregory
More deflection.
More deflection.
David Amos
@Buford Wilson" Justin needs to come clean with Canadians about this matter."
Dream on
Dream on
Luke Armstrong
Maybe Trudeau will apologize after a thorough RCMP investigation.
Jerry Buts
@Lorne Hartman he tours
around and gives money out freely....thats easy and allows for great
photo ops...guy should be a mascot.. um um um um um um um um um um um
David Amos
@Jerry Buts Methinks thou doth jest too much N'esy Pas?
Jason Martin
Trudeau has taken no responsibility for any of his gaffes.
He seems to think he's above it all.
He seems to think he's above it all.
Arlond Lynds
@Jason Martin
I think you are remembering Harper, he is gone mercifully. We still have the company he hired to run this site to remind us what he left behind.
I think you are remembering Harper, he is gone mercifully. We still have the company he hired to run this site to remind us what he left behind.
David Amos
@Jason Martin YUP
June Harris
@Jason Martin Although he did
not apologize yesterday, he did say that it was his responsibility as
leader to have known there were issues between his PMO staff and his
Minister/AG. Not sure what else he should be taking responsibility for.
He did not tell JWR to change her mind but asked her if she could look
at the issue further. I think that in the circumstances of this being a
brand new tool that could be used and also the fact that he is her boss,
an ask such as that is perfectly reasonable. He is not apologizing
because he doesn’t think that his request of her was anything to
apologize for.
Jack O Hill
@June Harris
"He did not tell JWR to change her mind but asked her if she could look at the issue further."
After 2 or 3 staffers had come back and told him: "she is not changing her mind", perhaps it was time to stop saying that a different solution was needed. After all, there were ONLY TWO options: DPA No DPA.
When you keep saying a different solution is needed, you are instructing her to reverse her decision. There is NO other possible interpretation.
"He did not tell JWR to change her mind but asked her if she could look at the issue further."
After 2 or 3 staffers had come back and told him: "she is not changing her mind", perhaps it was time to stop saying that a different solution was needed. After all, there were ONLY TWO options: DPA No DPA.
When you keep saying a different solution is needed, you are instructing her to reverse her decision. There is NO other possible interpretation.
David Amos
@June Harris What kind of
political party leader would demote his Attorney General in an election
year particularly after she went along with hiding the DPA in the
omnibus bill and took some heat from the Senate for not appearing to
explain? Did Trudeau and Butts really think people would not notice and
start digging for the dirt in the backstory?
Don Simpson
Trudeau is excellent at
making apologies for things that happened 10 or a 100 years ago for
events long forgotten, but he can’t seem to apologize for acts he
himself has doene and is clearly in the wrong. I suppose we will to wait
another 10 to 30 years for some future Trudeau relative to appologise
for the wrongdoings of today.
Michael Gall
@Don Simpson
Not really.
When he apologize for something 100 years ago, Canadian's purse hurt.
Not really.
When he apologize for something 100 years ago, Canadian's purse hurt.
David Amos
@Michael Gall True
Bill Mickey
It was of course everybody else's fault but his. Nice boy-up Justin.
David Amos
@Bill Mickey Mais Oui (Of Course)
Garry Horsnell
PM Trudeau's plight is worse and not just because of the sordid SNC Lavalin affair.
There are many reasons to get rid of Trudeau and his Liberals in the 2019 federal election.
There are many reasons to get rid of Trudeau and his Liberals in the 2019 federal election.
Dan Berty
@Peter Dale So right! Choices are a) Trudeau = Bad b) Scheer = bad c) Singh = bad.... So Bad + Bad + Bad = Pretty Sad.
David Amos
@Dan Berty I wholeheartedly agree
Craig Macneil
Thr arrogance of JT knows no
bounds.When asked if he was going to apologize he said yes today to the
FNs.That shows his bad attitude right there.
David Amos
@Craig Macneil Mais Oui (Of Course)
Jeff hunt
Catholics think the Pope is infallible.
Liberals think the Trudeau is infallible.
Both are wrong but at least the Pope apologized.
Liberals think the Trudeau is infallible.
Both are wrong but at least the Pope apologized.
Dan Berty
@Jeff hunt Totally agree...
full disclosure, I'm a Conservative that actually supported Trudeau.
My dilemma is many Conservatives thing Andrew Scheer is infallible too.
And Mr. Singh for NDP by NDPers. Pretty sad isn't it... All pretty
un-authentic leaders. How do you pick from bad, bad, and bad?
David Amos
@Jeff hunt True
frank mann
Worse. Trudeau is not trustworthy.
Lorne Hartman
@frank mann
nope.. he appoints backstabbers..
I agree with you
nope.. he appoints backstabbers..
I agree with you
David Amos
@Lorne Hartman Methinks you
already know that many folks would never agree with your reasoning even
though they don't trust Trudeau either N'esy Pas?
Ron Wilson
Beneath all of the
accusations, what troubles me the most is that I cannot remember hearing
Trudeau ever answering even ONE single question the entire time he's
been in office.
Politicians are known for this, but this guy is the King of Spin and Deflection.
Politicians are known for this, but this guy is the King of Spin and Deflection.
Donald Patrick
@Ron Wilson That's because he
feels that we, the unwashed, are not worthy of his information. We are
mere revenue streams for his pet projects.
David Amos
@Ron Wilson Good point Nor can I
Stephen David
The Liberals have shown they
are simply not fit to lead...Canadians have lost confidence and it is
reflecting across the Country in the polls.
Neil Gregory
@Stephen David
True, and they are no different from the Conservatives in that regard.
True, and they are no different from the Conservatives in that regard.
Arlond Lynds
@Stephen David
One thing all this testimony did was shine a light on our very well functioning government and the people hired to help it function properly.
One thing all this testimony did was shine a light on our very well functioning government and the people hired to help it function properly.
Alison Harms
@Arlond Lynds Leave out the "very well functioning" and your comment makes sense.
David Amos
@Alison Harms I agree
jordan keith
"many things that we would have liked to do differently,"......like not get caught
Jimmy Moore
@Gary Norton A government
thats already collapsed and wont be re-elected, regardless the law on
DPA's is clear, it cannot be used in cases of Bribery.
Jimmy Moore
@Jack O Hill actually its
only about 900 jobs in quebec, the other 8000 are all over canada, also
its more like 250 000 jobs out west that amount to Hundreds of times the
value of SNC which is honestly a very small company in canada.
David Amos
@jordan keith Need I say that sometimes I see things that make me feel proud to be a son of the Keith Clan?
jordan keith
its all about jobs
....except if you are
an energy worker
an agricultural worker
an auto worker
or are a worker outside of Quebec
....because then I just really don't care
....except if you are
an energy worker
an agricultural worker
an auto worker
or are a worker outside of Quebec
....because then I just really don't care
Jack O Hill
@Don Luft
" In which of those examples did the federal government have the power to save jobs?. "
Not cancelling Northern Gateway, and not changing the rules mid-approval process for Energy East would have had those line in place and the energy sector recovering right now.
" In which of those examples did the federal government have the power to save jobs?. "
Not cancelling Northern Gateway, and not changing the rules mid-approval process for Energy East would have had those line in place and the energy sector recovering right now.
Jack O Hill
@kevin james
"
Quebec IS Canada; didn’t you know? Oh, and we should all be thankful for them, because without them, we, the remainder, are undefined...."
Ah, yes.
"This country, Canada, it belongs to us." Justin Trudeau to a Quebec audience.
"
Quebec IS Canada; didn’t you know? Oh, and we should all be thankful for them, because without them, we, the remainder, are undefined...."
Ah, yes.
"This country, Canada, it belongs to us." Justin Trudeau to a Quebec audience.
David Amos
@jordan keith Methinks that
sounds just like the wealthy dude from Quebec with strange eyebrows who
travels the world on our dime while dressing rather oddly N'esy Pas?
Did Trudeau's non-apology on SNC-Lavalin make his plight better, or worse?
He may have been trying to reassure his caucus, but his words did nothing to satisfy his critics
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed
regret Thursday over how he and his team have handled the SNC-Lavalin
affair — a scandal that has stretched on for a month, claiming two top
cabinet ministers and Trudeau's most senior staffer.
But he didn't say the words many were expecting to hear: "I'm sorry." And that's led to widespread speculation about how (or if) the prime minister can put this business behind him before the 2019 election campaign ramps up.
When asked directly yesterday whether he planned to apologize outright, Trudeau ducked the question, saying instead he should have been personally aware of an "erosion of trust" between Gerald Butts, his former principal secretary, and Jody Wilson-Raybould, the former attorney general.
"I will continue to take many lessons from these recent days and weeks," Trudeau said.
The prime minister insisted again that he, Butts and Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick — and the many staffers on the file — applied no sort of "inappropriate" pressure on Wilson-Raybould to reconsider a deferred prosecution agreement for SNC-Lavalin. He said he should have checked in with the former justice minister personally on a file that mattered so much to many families in his Papineau riding.
It really was about the prospect of job losses, he said, and there was no breakdown in the rule of law. Trudeau promised to review the actual role of the attorney general and whether it should be split off from the role of justice minister.
"Ultimately, I believe our government will be stronger for having wrestled with these issues," Trudeau said.
Trudeau's critics ripped him Thursday for what they saw as a weak response to a serious issue. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Trudeau should have gone much further than he did, arguing that Wilson-Raybould's compelling and believable testimony before the Commons justice committee — about a concerted political effort to get her to reverse a decision she believed was "final" — demanded nothing less than a public mea culpa.
"Canadians had hoped Justin Trudeau would have apologized for the way Ms. Wilson-Raybould was treated and maybe apologize for the pressure that was improperly placed on her. We didn't see an apology. We didn't see maybe an admission of fault. We saw a sidestep — collateral comments that didn't really get to the heart of the matter," Singh said.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said Trudeau should have offered more after he "bullied" Wilson-Raybould to sign a DPA with SNC-Lavalin.
"The truth can't be experienced differently," Scheer said.
"The Justin Trudeau we saw today is the real Justin Trudeau. A prime minister who can't manage his own office, let alone the affairs of a great nation."
Trudeau
has denied any wrongdoing, saying he personally met with
Wilson-Raybould about the matter only once, on Sept. 17, 2018, and that
the Liberal government simply wanted a thorough review of all the
options, and outside legal advice, before the attorney general closed
the case.
A source with direct knowledge of the situation, speaking to CBC's Katie Simpson on condition of anonymity, said Thursday the prime minister didn't apologize because he feels "in his core" that he did nothing wrong.
"The prime minister is not going to say something he doesn't believe in, and he doesn't believe he's done anything wrong," the source said.
The Prime Minister's Office maintains all involved were genuinely concerned by Wilson-Raybould's quick decision to not pursue a DPA — an arrangement like a plea bargain that would allow the company to avoid a criminal trial on bribery charges — fearing a guilty verdict for the firm could lead to financial ruin and massive job losses.
Greg MacEachern, vice-president of government relations at Proof Strategies and a long-time Liberal strategist, said the prime minister has to consider what message an apology would send to caucus members who feel he really has nothing to apologize for — and who may be worried about the political consequences of Wilson-Raybould's statements.
Some Liberal insiders are deeply angry with the former attorney general, fearing her insistence on branding these lobbying efforts as inappropriate could torpedo their electoral fortunes.
"When you've lost two cabinet ministers, you want to take stock and make sure your team is all onboard. And that's what he's been doing the last couple of days," MacEachern said, adding the prime minister has been making calls to caucus members over the last few days as part of a "gut check" on the affair.
"Had his team felt [an apology was necessary], you would have seen a very different press conference."
MacEachern said Trudeau's concession that some things should have been done better in the Prime Minister's Office was sufficient.
"If your opponents are demanding you do something, you really want to stop and take those calls with a grain of salt. After all, if it was up to Andrew Scheer, Justin Trudeau wouldn't have to apologize for anything because he would've already resigned last week," MacEachern said, citing Scheer's call for Trudeau's resignation immediately after Wilson-Raybould's committee appearance last week.
Jennifer Stewart, a crisis communications expert with Syntax Strategic, said she thinks Trudeau may have made his situation worse by missing an opportunity to apologize to Canadians and put the issue to rest once and for all.
"Simply saying this was an erosion of trust ... won't hold water with Canadians. The issue is much bigger than that. From my perspective, that portion of his presser was tone-deaf. To try and diminish this as simply as an erosion of trust won't work well," Stewart said.
"He should have apologized. He should have said ... 'There was a breakdown of communications and clearly that has had an impact on our government and how we do politics and I apologize.' This was his opportunity to provide that apology in his context ... which is, 'We apologize but we did nothing illegal here.' He didn't have an authentic answer."
Jody Wilson-Raybould and Gerald Butts seen during their separate appearances before the Commons justice committee. (Canadian Press photos)
There
could be another reason informing Trudeau's decision to stop short of
"I'm sorry." An apology from the PM before the dust settles on any
investigations could have legal implications.
While the justice committee is still pursuing its study, with opposition MPs angling to bring Wilson-Raybould back to testify again, there's at least one parallel probe underway. The federal ethics commissioner, Mario Dion, has self-initiated an investigation of alleged breaches of the federal ethics code by the prime minister personally.
Scheer, meanwhile, has also asked the RCMP to investigate the matter, given the severity of allegations of inappropriate political interference in the prosecution of justice in this country. Five past provincial and federal attorneys general — four Conservative and one NDP — have called for a police probe of the matter, saying the intervention by PMO staffers and the clerk of the Privy Council may have been illegal under the Criminal Code.
But he didn't say the words many were expecting to hear: "I'm sorry." And that's led to widespread speculation about how (or if) the prime minister can put this business behind him before the 2019 election campaign ramps up.
When asked directly yesterday whether he planned to apologize outright, Trudeau ducked the question, saying instead he should have been personally aware of an "erosion of trust" between Gerald Butts, his former principal secretary, and Jody Wilson-Raybould, the former attorney general.
"I will continue to take many lessons from these recent days and weeks," Trudeau said.
The prime minister insisted again that he, Butts and Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick — and the many staffers on the file — applied no sort of "inappropriate" pressure on Wilson-Raybould to reconsider a deferred prosecution agreement for SNC-Lavalin. He said he should have checked in with the former justice minister personally on a file that mattered so much to many families in his Papineau riding.
It really was about the prospect of job losses, he said, and there was no breakdown in the rule of law. Trudeau promised to review the actual role of the attorney general and whether it should be split off from the role of justice minister.
"Ultimately, I believe our government will be stronger for having wrestled with these issues," Trudeau said.
A 'sidestep' — not an apology
Trudeau's critics ripped him Thursday for what they saw as a weak response to a serious issue. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Trudeau should have gone much further than he did, arguing that Wilson-Raybould's compelling and believable testimony before the Commons justice committee — about a concerted political effort to get her to reverse a decision she believed was "final" — demanded nothing less than a public mea culpa.
"Canadians had hoped Justin Trudeau would have apologized for the way Ms. Wilson-Raybould was treated and maybe apologize for the pressure that was improperly placed on her. We didn't see an apology. We didn't see maybe an admission of fault. We saw a sidestep — collateral comments that didn't really get to the heart of the matter," Singh said.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said Trudeau should have offered more after he "bullied" Wilson-Raybould to sign a DPA with SNC-Lavalin.
"The truth can't be experienced differently," Scheer said.
"The Justin Trudeau we saw today is the real Justin Trudeau. A prime minister who can't manage his own office, let alone the affairs of a great nation."
A source with direct knowledge of the situation, speaking to CBC's Katie Simpson on condition of anonymity, said Thursday the prime minister didn't apologize because he feels "in his core" that he did nothing wrong.
'He doesn't believe he's done anything wrong'
"The prime minister is not going to say something he doesn't believe in, and he doesn't believe he's done anything wrong," the source said.
The Prime Minister's Office maintains all involved were genuinely concerned by Wilson-Raybould's quick decision to not pursue a DPA — an arrangement like a plea bargain that would allow the company to avoid a criminal trial on bribery charges — fearing a guilty verdict for the firm could lead to financial ruin and massive job losses.
Greg MacEachern, vice-president of government relations at Proof Strategies and a long-time Liberal strategist, said the prime minister has to consider what message an apology would send to caucus members who feel he really has nothing to apologize for — and who may be worried about the political consequences of Wilson-Raybould's statements.
Some Liberal insiders are deeply angry with the former attorney general, fearing her insistence on branding these lobbying efforts as inappropriate could torpedo their electoral fortunes.
'Gut-check'
"When you've lost two cabinet ministers, you want to take stock and make sure your team is all onboard. And that's what he's been doing the last couple of days," MacEachern said, adding the prime minister has been making calls to caucus members over the last few days as part of a "gut check" on the affair.
"Had his team felt [an apology was necessary], you would have seen a very different press conference."
MacEachern said Trudeau's concession that some things should have been done better in the Prime Minister's Office was sufficient.
"If your opponents are demanding you do something, you really want to stop and take those calls with a grain of salt. After all, if it was up to Andrew Scheer, Justin Trudeau wouldn't have to apologize for anything because he would've already resigned last week," MacEachern said, citing Scheer's call for Trudeau's resignation immediately after Wilson-Raybould's committee appearance last week.
'Tone-deaf'
Jennifer Stewart, a crisis communications expert with Syntax Strategic, said she thinks Trudeau may have made his situation worse by missing an opportunity to apologize to Canadians and put the issue to rest once and for all.
"Simply saying this was an erosion of trust ... won't hold water with Canadians. The issue is much bigger than that. From my perspective, that portion of his presser was tone-deaf. To try and diminish this as simply as an erosion of trust won't work well," Stewart said.
"He should have apologized. He should have said ... 'There was a breakdown of communications and clearly that has had an impact on our government and how we do politics and I apologize.' This was his opportunity to provide that apology in his context ... which is, 'We apologize but we did nothing illegal here.' He didn't have an authentic answer."
While the justice committee is still pursuing its study, with opposition MPs angling to bring Wilson-Raybould back to testify again, there's at least one parallel probe underway. The federal ethics commissioner, Mario Dion, has self-initiated an investigation of alleged breaches of the federal ethics code by the prime minister personally.
Scheer, meanwhile, has also asked the RCMP to investigate the matter, given the severity of allegations of inappropriate political interference in the prosecution of justice in this country. Five past provincial and federal attorneys general — four Conservative and one NDP — have called for a police probe of the matter, saying the intervention by PMO staffers and the clerk of the Privy Council may have been illegal under the Criminal Code.
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