Andrew Scheer Grills Justin Trudeau On SNC-Lavalin Affair
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[Andrew Scheer Grills Justin Trudeau On SNC-Lavalin Affair]
[Andrew James Scheer PC MP (Member of the Canadian House of Commons – Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Official Opposition since 2017):] Source: LYBIO.net
[Mr. Speaker, that] was not the question – the question was who asked for the meeting between the Prime Minister and the former Attorney General?
[Andrew Scheer:]
Now we know that that meeting took place on September 17th. The Director of Public Prosecutions ruled on September 4th that SNC-Lavalin would not be entitled to a special deal. So once again, who asked for the meeting? Was that The Prime Minister? Or the former Attorney General?
[House (Geoff Regan):]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Pierre James Trudeau PC MP (23rd Prime Minister of Canada since 2015 and Leader of the Liberal Party since 2013):]
Mr. Speaker, we look forward to the work that both the Ethics Commissioner and the Justice Committee of parliamentarians will be doing on this matter, but I can assure all Canadians that unlike the Leader of the Opposition, we will always stand up for good jobs right across this country, every step of the way, while making sure we respect the independence of our judicial system.
[APPLAUSE]
[Geoff Regan:] Source: LYBIO.net
ORDER! ORDER! The Honorable leader of the Opposition.
[Andrew Scheer:]
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is certainly not acting like someone who is innocent of these serious allegations. Now, once again, on September 17th, he admitted that he had a meeting with the former Attorney General. Canada’s top prosecutor had already decided, with her independent analysis, that SNC-Lavalin was not entitled to a special deal. So once again, who asked for the meeting? There are only two options. It was either the Prime Minister or the former Attorney General. Which was it?
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):]
Mr. Speaker, I will not be apologetic for standing up consistently for good Canadian jobs and for standing up for the independence of our judicial system and the important processes in place. Uh uh… of course the meetings that I have with any member of cabinet are covered by cabinet confidentiality, but members can be sure that every step of the way we both stand up for Canadians and look to serve them and stand up for our institutions that keep us all safe in this country.
[Geoff Regan:]
ORDER! The Honorable leader of the Opposition.
[Andrew Scheer:]
Mr. Speaker, I note that he cannot answer that simple question. Now, the decision by the top prosecutor in Canada not to grant SNC-Lavalin a special deal was made on September 4th. On September 17th, the Prime Minister met with the former Attorney General. Was the Prime Minister aware of the director of public prosecution’s decision when he had that meeting?
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):]
Mr. Speaker, every step of the way we take very seriously the responsibility of defending good jobs right across this country, while we stand up and protect the institutions that serve us all in this country. Those are the two things that are central tenets for this government and that we will always continue to do. Of course, Mr. Speaker, there are right now two ongoing court cases on this matter and it would be inappropriate for us to comment too much on that.
[Geoff Regan:]
ORDER! The Honorable leader of the Opposition.
[Andrew Scheer:]
Mr. Speaker, the best way to respect the independence of Canada’s judicial system is to not interfere with it. Now -[Applause] this is a very simple yes or no question. This is not about speculation [or] about an ongoing investigation. This is a yes or no question. Was the Prime Minister aware of Canada’s top prosecutor’s decision when he had the meeting with the former Attorney General, yes or no?
[Background:]
Hear, hear!
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):]
Mr. Speaker, this is a file that touches tens of thousands of Canadians right across the country, including uh uh… 9,000 direct jobs, uh and communities right across the country. Of course we’re going to be very careful about how we move forward in protecting those jobs, but we are also going to, at the same time, make sure that we are standing up for the independence of our judicial system and all the processes that keep our Democratic institutions safe.
[Charlie Angus Timmins—James Bay, ON:]
Mr. Speaker, what day is this? Oh, it is Wednesday. It is a new day, a new excuse, a new bombshell in the Gerry Butts-SNC scandal, and this one is a doozy. It turns out that the Prime Minister met with the Justice Minister after they found out that the independent public prosecution would not give the free get-out-of-jail card to SNC.
So what happened in that meeting?
Because it would represent a major interference in the independence of Canada’s justice system.
So will the Prime Minister give us a full airing, and agree to an independent inquiry where his staff will be forced to testify?
[Applause]
[Background:]
Hear, hear!
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):]
Mr. Speaker, unlike the member opposite, we will always stand up for jobs, we will always stand up for the Canadian economy, but we will do that in ways that respect judicial independence and the Rule of Law. If the member does not choose to take my word for it, allow him to take it directly from the Director of the Public Prosecution Service, who confirmed just last week that, in every case, prosecutors quote, “exercise their discretion independently and free from any political or partisan consideration.”
[Geoff Regan:] Source: LYBIO.net
The Honorable Member for Timmins—James Bay. ORDER!!!!!
[Charlie Angus Timmins—James Bay, ON:]
Well fair enough; they do stand up for jobs – the jobs of lobbyists. I mean – there’s – he’s led around by the nose by lobbyists. The question is if he is willing to obstruct justice to help his lobbyist friends because, oh, to live in the tawdry but very elite world of Gerry Butts and this Prime Minister. So was it Gerry’s idea to strong-arm the Justice Department to help their insider friends? No wonder he doesn’t want Gerry Butts testifying at committee. So to the Prime Minister – will he agree to allow Gerry Butts and his staff testify under oath, so we can get to the bottom? By the way, is he willing to testify?
[Applause]
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):]
Mr. Speaker, once again, I have tremendous confidence in the members of the Justice Committee, who will be moving forward on the investigation – indeed of all sides; and indeed in the Ethics Commissioner, who has taken this matter into – under investigation. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, I want to, once again, thank Gerry Butts for his contributions to Canada. His letter of resignation speaks for itself. He continues to believe deeply in what this government, and what this country is doing to help everyone.
[Geoff Regan:]
ORDER! There’s far too much noise, Members, of course want to hear the questions and answers and ought to show RESPECT for this Institution. The Honorable member for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies remember that!
[VIDEO EDIT]
[Andrew Scheer:]
[Mr. Speaker, we know that the Prime Minister] told his caucus that any communication coming from Mr. Butts should be considered as coming from the Prime Minister himself. So once again, when did the Prime Minister become aware of the December 5th meeting between Gerald Butts and the former Attorney General?
[Applause]
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):]
[Mr. Speaker], I recognize perhaps that i’s a legacy of the Harper years. The Conservatives do not seem to understand that a team that works together actually has lots of people having meetings about things that matter all the time. We continue to engage in a broad way that both protects and upholds jobs in this country and respects the independence of our system and its judiciary. That is something that we expect from all members of Cabinet and all my staff, and we work together to serve Canadians, day-in and day-out.
[Geoff Regan:]
ORDER! The Honorable leader of the Opposition.
[Andrew Scheer:]
There we are,Mr. Speaker.
First it was the former Attorney General’s fault, then it was the Director of Public Prosecutions’ fault, then it was The Globe and Mail’s fault and then it was Scott Brison’s fault. Now we know it was Stephen Harper’s fault.
[Background:] Source: LYBIO.net
Oh my!!
[Andrew Scheer:]
That’s why he did what he did in this scandal, Mr. Speaker. Nobody’s buying what he’s trying to sell. Now, can the Prime Minister tell this House that at any point in time did he ever expressed his support for a special deal for SNC-Lavalin to the former Attorney General, yes or no?
First it was the former attorney general’s fault, then it was the director of public prosecutions’ fault, then it was The Globe and Mail’s fault and then it was Scott Brison’s fault. Now we know it was Stephen Harper’s fault. That is why he did what he did in this scandal.
Nobody is buying what he is trying to sell.
Now, can the Prime Minister tell this House if at any point in time he ever expressed his support for a special deal for SNC-Lavalin to the former attorney general, yes or no?
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):]
Mr. Speaker, once again we see the Conservatives choosing to play political games with issues of deep importance. We remain focused, yes, on standing up for jobs and for standing up for the independence of our judiciary in this country. This is something we are going to consistently do, and we will make no apologies for standing strong in our principles to both protect and promote jobs in this country and uphold the Rule of Law and the independence of our judicial system.
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Member – the honorable leader of the Opposition.
[Andrew Scheer:]
Mr. Speaker, again, that was’t the question. This is key to this entire affair of allegations of interference in a criminal proceeding.
[Background:]
Right.
[Andrew Scheer:]
The Prime Minister, through an omnibus bill, gave the top prosecutor the option of using a deferred prosecution agreement, and she ruled, in her independent manner, that SNC-Lavalin did not qualify. At any point in time, since that decision, has the Prime Minister expressed his support for this kind of deal for SNC-Lavalin, yes or no?
[Applause] Source: LYBIO.net
[Background:]
Hear, hear!
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):]
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite seems to be concerned about the independence of the Director of the Public Prosecution Service. Well, let me speak directly to that by quoting her, who just last week confirmed that in every case prosecutors quote, “exercise their discretion independently and free from any political or partisan consideration.” Canadians can know that, in this country, we continue to abide by the Rule of Law.
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Leader of the Opposition.
[Andrew Scheer:]
Mr. Speaker, nobody is questioning the Director of Public Prosecutions exercising her authority. What we’re questioning is whether or not the Prime Minister attempted to interfere in an ongoing criminal investigation. But that was not the question. The question was very very simple. The top prosecutor of Canada ruled on September 4th that SNC-Lavalin did not qualify for this new kind of deal. At any point in time since that decision was made, has the Prime Minister expressed his support for SNC-Lavalin getting a deal, yes or no?
[Applause]
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):]
Mr. Speaker, I have been unequivocal over the fall, and I am unequivocal now, that we will always support Canadian jobs and the growth of our economy. We will always stand up to protect workers right across the country. We will always do that in ways that respect the independence of our Judiciary, the Rule of Law and the institutions that keep Canada one of the greatest democracies in the world.
[Geoff Regan:]
The Leader of the Opposition.
[Andrew Scheer:]
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister cannot have it both ways. He cannot hold up the independence of the Director – of Public Prosecutions Office and at the same time, interfere and attempt to get a reversal of a decision.
[Background:]
Exactly.
[Andrew Scheer:]
The decision not to give SNC-Lavalin was made on September 4th. The Prime Minister had a meeting with the former Attorney General on September 17. Gerald Butts had a meeting with the former Attorney General on December 5th. Why would the Prime Minister have so many meetings with the former attorney general if it were not to try to reverse a decision that had already been made?
[Applause]
[Background:]
Hear, hear!
[Geoff Regan:]
The Honorable Prime Minister.
[Justin Trudeau (Prime Minister):]
Mr. Speaker, I can confirm right here in this House that we had many meetings between Cabinet Ministers and the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister’s Office on a broad range of important issues that matter to Canadians. It is the work of this government to serve Canadians, to protect jobs and to protect our institutions and the – and the independence of our judiciary at the same time. This is exactly what we do and what we will continue to do, and make no apologies for the snide – to the snide accusations made by the members opposite.
[Connect and Follow Andrew Scheer:]
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Conservative.ca/andrew-scheer/
Twitter.com/AndrewScheer
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[Connect and Follow Justin Trudeau:]
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Andrew Scheer Grills Justin Trudeau On SNC-Lavalin Affair. The question was who asked for the meeting between the Prime Minister and the former Attorney General? Complete Full Transcript, Dialogue, Remarks, Saying, Quotes, Words And Text.