Wilson-Raybould to testify on SNC-Lavalin controversy Wednesday
Posted February 26, 2019 7:04 am.
Last Updated February 26, 2019 6:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — Former Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould has agreed to testify about the SNC-Lavalin affair at the Justice Committee Wednesday afternoon.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says it was important to waive solicitor-client privilege and cabinet confidentiality to allow for former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to tell her side of the SNC-Lavalin story before a parliamentary committee.
He made the stunning move Monday night after weeks of questions about whether or not Wilson-Raybould would be allowed to testify.
An order-in-council was published lifting restrictions on the former minister and anyone she talked to about negotiating a remediation agreement with the Quebec engineering giant rather than pursuing criminal prosecution for bribery and fraud.
“Waiving privilege, waiving Cabinet confidentiality, is something that we had to take very seriously but I’m pleased that Ms. Wilson Raybould is going to be able to share her perspective,” Trudeau told reporters.
He also said he is looking forward to hearing her testimony.
Trudeau and Wilson-Raybould had both been awaiting legal advice on the extent of solicitor-client privilege protecting their conversations, restrictions that Justice Minister David Lametti said are needed.
“We have worked to demonstrate transparency as well as balancing the fact that there is ongoing litigation we do not want to compromise,” Lametti added. “So we feel we’ve done that with this agreement.”
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Trudeau has insisted he was always clear that the decision whether to prosecute was hers and hers alone.
The former minister requested 30 minutes for an opening statement which the committee has accepted.
Wilson-Raybould has yet to confirm or deny allegations the prime minister pressured her to cut a deal with SNC-Lavalin.
