Wilson-Raybould to testify in parliamentary probe of SNC-Lavalin scandal, but no witnesses from PMO called

Former justice minister and attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould will be called to testify before a parliamentary committee probing the SNC-Lavalin scandal but opposition critics are furious that no past or current aides in the Prime Minister's Office will be invited to appear.

After a two-hour closed door meeting, members of the justice committee emerged today with a list of witnesses that includesa handful of academics andJustice Minister David Lametti,in addition to Wilson-Raybould.

But Conservatives and New Democrats accused the Liberals of blocking key players from appearing among them Gerry Butts, who suddenlyresigned Monday from his position as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau'stop adviser.

Watch the Power Panel analyze the latest developments on Power & Politics

Wilson-Raybould speaks to cabinet | Power Panel

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Francoise, Stockwell, Jen and Tim discuss JWR's appearance at cabinet and the next steps of the justice committee.

Wilson-Raybouldwas demoted from minister of Justice to the Veterans Affairs portfolio earlier this month. She resigned cabinet last week, just days afterthe Globe and Mail reported that she was pressured by people in the Trudeau PMO to direct the Public Prosecution Service of Canada to draft a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) a legal tool resembling a plea deal forSNC-Lavalin, allowing the global engineering firm to avoid criminal prosecution on bribery and fraud charges in relation to contracts in Libya.

Wilson-Raybouldsurprised many today when she emergedfrom the cabinet room in the afternoonafter addressing Trudeauand his ministers. Standing at the centreof a scandal engulfing the governmentand asserting that she still remains bound by solicitor-client privilege that limits what she can say publiclyshe said thesituation is complex.

"The rules and laws around privilege, around confidentiality, around my responsibility as a member of Parliament, my ethical and professional responsibilities as a lawyer, are layered and incredibly complicated. So I'm still working with my lawyer," she said.As the former attorney-general,Wilson-Raybouldacted as the government's top lawyer.

Conservative deputy leader Lisa Raittexpressed deep disappointment with the committee's witness listand said that committee members must hear from Butts in order to get to the bottom of the affair.

"We will ask very good questions and we will expect the witnesses to answer truthfully because they will be under oath," she said.

Raitt said it's also critical that Trudeau waive client-solicitor privilege for Wilson-Raybould so she can answer the committee's questions thoroughly.

Wilson Raybould speaks to CBC News at she leaves Question Period

6 years ago

Duration 2:39

Jody Wilson-Raybould leaves Question Period and is asked questions by the CBC's Chris Rands

TrudeausaidWilson-Raybouldmade the request to address cabinet today, but would not divulge any details of what she said.

Wilson-Raybouldsaidtoday she remains a Liberal MP. She also saidher lawyer,retired Supreme Court justiceThomas Cromwell,is advising her on what she can and can't say before the committee.

"I will appear, but as I said, I'm still in discussions with my counsel about the various privileges and confidences that I have," she said.

Minutes after that statement, Liberal MP Iqra Khalid tweeted that she had issued a notice of motion before the justice committee to invite Wilson-Raybould to appear before the committee looking into the SNC-Lavalin controversy.

Lawyers, academics called to testify

Facing mounting pressure from opposition critics to waive client-solicitor privilege, Trudeautoday would say only that he askedLamettito review the situation and provide him with advice.

Along with Wilson-Raybould and Lametti, other witnesses called to appear before the committee include:

• Milo Barutciski, lawyer with Borden Ladner Gervais
• Kenneth Jull, lawyer with Gardiner Roberts LLP
• Judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond
• Craig Forcese, law professorat the University of Ottawa
• Adam Dodek, dean and law professor at the University of Ottawa
• Nathalie Drouin, deputy minister of justice, deputy attorney general
• Michael Wernick, Clerk of Privy Council

NDP MP Murray Rankinsaid hewas frustrated by thefact that no one from the PMO was on the witness list.

"The justice committee owes it to Canadians to study this. It's fundamental to our democracy and, frankly, what happened there was a travesty," he said.

Trudeau has denied any wrongdoing,as did Butts in his bombshell resignation letter Monday.

Asked today if she was pressured by the Prime Minister's Office, Wilson-Raybould said she is "still working with my lawyer."

Liberal MP Randy Boissonnaultinsisted the committee hearings will yield answers.

"Canadians expect us to treat this matter seriously and fairly and to act with integrity," he said. "That is what we are doing."

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