OTTAWA – POLITICS – Andrew Scheer, Leader of Canada’s Conservatives and the Official Opposition, issued this statement following today’s testimony of Gerald Butts, Michael Wernick, and Nathalie Drouin at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights:
“Despite today’s testimony, the central facts of this Liberal corruption scandal remain crystal clear.
“Justin Trudeau and his highest-ranking officials waged a sustained and co-ordinated attempt to politically interfere in the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.
“This interference came in the form of bullying and threatening the former Attorney General, Jody Wilson-Raybould, to put an end to a criminal trial and cut SNC-Lavalin a special deal.
“It continued, despite Ms. Wilson-Raybould rendering a final decision and telling the Prime Minister’s Office to back off. And when she wouldn’t do what Mr. Trudeau wanted her to do, she was fired.
“The bottom line is Justin Trudeau tried to subvert the rule of law to win elections and benefit his friends. Nothing Canadians heard today conflicts with that.
“However, both Mr. Butts and Mr. Wernick spoke freely of events Ms. Wilson-Raybould legally cannot. I repeat my call for Mr. Trudeau to waive privilege so Ms. Wilson-Raybould can respond to claims made about her today and so Canadians can get the full story.
“I also repeat my calls for an RCMP investigation into this matter and for Mr. Trudeau to step down as Prime Minister. He is too consumed with damage control to continue to govern.
“Above all else, Canadians today witnessed even more evidence of a scandal-plagued government in chaos. It shouldn’t be this way and it doesn’t have to be.
“I was pleased today to announce my plan to get rid of the GST on home heating. While Liberals publicly feud and privately plot their political survival, Conservatives will continue to demonstrate that we are ready to lead.”
