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Trudeau says he had “cordial” conversation with Jody Wilson-Raybould

Mar 25, 2019 | 11:09 AM

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he spoke with former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould last week about a way forward following her allegations he politically interfered in a decision about a prosecution of SNC-Lavalin.

Trudeau says the conversation was “cordial” and that they discussed “next steps” but did not elaborate further while answering questions in Maple Ridge, B.C.

The prime minister is also signalling that Wilson-Raybould and former Treasury Board president Jane Philpott will be allowed to remain in the Liberal caucus despite their outspoken criticism of his government’s handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair.

He says he looks forward to continuing to have their strong and thoughtful voices as part of his Liberal team.

Opposition Leader Andrew Scheer however is calling on Trudeau to waive cabinet confidentiality for both Wilson-Raybould and Philpott so they can testify freely to the House of Commons ethics committee.

The committee will meet tomorrow to discuss requests from the Conservatives and the NDP to launch an investigation into allegations of political interference in the criminal case against the Montreal-based engineering giant.

 

 

 

The Canadian Press