Former Trudeau staffer testifies on SNC-Lavalin scandal
'Did the RCMP ask any questions about SNC-Lavalin and Justin Trudeau?' asked Conservative MP Michael Barrett. 'That was five years ago. I don't remember the flow of the interview,” replied Michael Wernick, a former Privy Council clerk.
A former staffer to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau testified before a parliamentary committee Tuesday to divulge details on the SNC-Lavalin affair.
“Has the RCMP contacted you regarding Justin Trudeau’s role in the SNC-Lavalin scandal?” asked Conservative MP Michael Barrett. “They have not,” replied Wernick.
“But you were interviewed for the Ethics commissioner’s report — the Trudeau 2.0 report — on the SNC-Lavalin scandal?” asked Barrett. “Yes,” replied Michael Wernick.
“Easter weekend one time I was interviewed by the commissioner in preparation of the report,” continued the former Privy Council clerk. Wernick retired from public service in April 2019.
He immediately clarified the RCMP interviewed him on federal lobbying activities following the scandal that summer.
For 5 years Trudeau has done everything to hide from his SNC scandal and withheld evidence from the RCMP.
— Michael Barrett (@MikeBarrettON) March 19, 2024
Today the top official caught on tape about Trudeau interfering in the criminal prosecution of SNC Lavalin will testify.
It’s time for the truth. pic.twitter.com/zPtiBVEcfx
In February 2019, allegations of political interference emerged against the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for urging then-attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould not to investigate suspected fraud and corruption by Québec firm SNC-Lavalin.
The Montreal construction firm appeared to benefit from a deferred prosecution agreement to avoid criminal prosecution in 2019, as the RCMP only looked into alleged obstruction of justice by the PMO — not allegations of criminal intent.
At the time, Wilson-Raybould had been shuffled from the justice portfolio to Veteran Affairs.
Four days later, then-ethics commissioner Mario Dion announced he would investigate the allegations. Wilson-Raybould resigned from Trudeau's cabinet later that day.
New SNC revelations 👀
— Michael Barrett (@MikeBarrettON) March 19, 2024
Trudeau’s former top official testifies he was interviewed by the RCMP on SNC Lavalin’s lobbying of Trudeau officials
He was ordered by Trudeau to put pressure on Canada’s former attorney general to give SNC a deferred prosecution agreement - a “get out… pic.twitter.com/XFmZunRfOu
“Did you have further contact with the RCMP regarding SNC-Lavalin?” asked Barrett. “Never prior and never after,” replied Wernick.
“Did the RCMP ask any questions about SNC-Lavalin and Justin Trudeau?” asked Barrett. “That was five years ago,” replied Wernick. “I don't remember the flow of the interview.”
“We went over the material, which you will see in the commissioner’s report,” he continued.
“You don't remember if Justin Trudeau’s name was brought up by the RCMP?” pressed Barrett. “Yes, the role of the prime mtinister came up, as I was in contact with him during the period I was clerk,” replied Wernick.
Explosive testimony reveals Trudeau's alleged interference in SNC-Lavalin Case and RCMP Investigation...
— Western Standard (@WSOnlineNews) February 28, 2024
"Trudeau must stop the obstruction & turn over the documents to the RCMP" ~ Conservative MP, Michael Cooper.#ableg #abpoli #cdnpoli #skpoli #bcpoli #westernstandard pic.twitter.com/BZVE0zp99w
RCMP top brass told the Commons ethics committee earlier this month there was no political pressure in their decision to not pursue criminal charges against Trudeau for the SNC-Lavalin affair.
“I’ll let individuals draw their own conclusion,” said RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme.
According to testimony from top government officials, a Commons committee learned on February 2 that the federal police service only interviewed four persons of interest, including Wilson-Raybould.
They did not attempt to get Trudeau’s testimony, reported The National Post, before concluding they had insufficient evidence to file criminal charges.
New details have emerged from the SNC-Lavalin scandal as MPs learned the RCMP never interviewed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before concluding their investigation.https://t.co/L9I7qCG8Se
— Rebel News (@RebelNewsOnline) February 28, 2024
Bewildered Conservative MPs at the ethics committee contemplated why the RCMP did not inquire further.
“In my over 30 years of experience as a defence counsel and a Crown attorney, I have never heard of any investigation where there wasn’t any attempt — whether they agree to interview or not — to interview the person of interest,” said Conservative MP Larry Brock at the time.
According to Democracy Watch, the RCMP reached their conclusions courtesy of public claims by those involved in the scandal.
The federal police service applied to obtain a search warrant to access confidential cabinet documents relevant to the case, but the Privy Council Office denied their request to access confidential cabinet documents.
Duheme told MPs the RCMP had “limited” access to information but contends they “did everything we could.”
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