BUTTS: THERE WAS NO CO-ORDINATED EFFORT TO PRESSURE WILSON-RAYBOULD
Mar 06, 2019
By Bob Komsic
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The prime minister’s former right-hand man has told the Commons justice committee neither he nor Justin Trudeau ever ordered anyone to pressure the former attorney general to help SNC-Lavalin avoid criminal prosecution.
”I am firmly convinced that nothing happened here beyond the normal operations of government,” said Gerald Butts.
He said the aim was to stress the impact of a prosecution, including the thousands of jobs at stake.
Butts says officials always understood the final decision rested with Wilson-Raybould, however because of the impact of that decision, it was suggested getting an independent opinion from a former retired Supreme Court justice such as Beverly McLachlin, the former chief justice.
Butts also maintained Wilson-Raybould’s move from attorney general to Veterans Affairs had nothing to do with SNC-Lavalin.
In her testimony, Wilson-Raybould claimed to have faced intense pressure and veiled threats from 11 Prime Minister’s Office and other government officials.