Trudeau pleased Wilson-Raybould can share her ‘perspectives’ on SNC-Lavalin affair

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s pleased that Jody Wilson-Raybould will be able to “share her perspectives” on the SNC-Lavalin affair.

The government issued a broad waiver on Monday allowing the former justice minister and attorney general to disclose details of her conversations with government officials about the prosecution of the Montreal-based global engineering and construction company.

“It’s important that people get an opportunity to testify, or share their point of view, at committee,” Trudeau told reporters as he headed in to the weekly Liberal cabinet meeting.

“As we said, 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 perspectives.”

An order-in-council (OIC) posted online Monday waived cabinet confidence and solicitor-client privilege, except for communications between Wilson-Raybould and the director of public prosecutions “in order to uphold the integrity of any criminal or civil proceedings,” according to the text of the order.

Justice Minister and Attorney General David Lametti said the order achieves dual objectives.

“What we were doing is establishing a process that’s fair and open and allows transparency but still protects the very principles that we want to protect in the legal system, as well as not interfering with ongoing litigation,” he said.

Contacts between lawyers

Lametti confirmed there were “contacts” between lawyers, but would not disclose further details.

Wilson-Raybould has retained retired Supreme Court justice Thomas Cromwell as counsel.

It’s still not clear when she will testify at committee, but on Monday Wilson-Raybould wrote to the committee chair, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, stating that she is “anxious” to appear. She also sought permission to deliver a 30-minute opening statement instead of the usual five to 10 minutes.

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 to help the company avoid criminal prosecution on bribery charges related to contracts in Libya.

Wilson-Raybould resigned from cabinet on Feb. 12, and has remained silent on the matter, insisting she’s still bound by solicitor-client confidentiality from her time as attorney general.