In the broad strokes, the report of the federal ethics commissioner, Mario Dion, into the SNC-Lavalin affair tells us nothing new.
It was already clear to anyone with eyes to see — it was not even really denied — that the prime minister and his officials repeatedly and strenuously pressured the former attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, to interfere in the criminal prosecution of the Quebec-based engineering giant: specifically, by overturning the decision of the director of public prosecutions not to offer the company a “remediation agreement” in place of a trial.
It was equally clear — and again, not really denied — that, along with the supposed impact of such a decision on the company’s fortunes and those of its employees, the prime minister and his officials repeatedly invoked partisan political considerations, both with regard to the 2018 Quebec provincial election and the 2019 federal election.
And it was crystal clear that this pressure campaign continued long after the former attorney general told the prime minister (and his officials) it was improper, and should stop.
Of course it should. Whether or not a prosecutor may take into account the economic impact of an international bribery conviction — the law would appear to say no — neither she nor the attorney general may be pressured by others to do so, and whatever other concerns the AG may or may not take into account in deciding whether to intervene, partisan interests are absolutely verboten.
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See Also:
(1) Report says why PMO wanted former Supreme Court judges to advise on SNC-Lavalin
(2) ‘I take responsibility,’ Trudeau says in wake of damning report on SNC-Lavalin ethics violation
(3) McLellan advises against splitting roles of attorney general, justice minister
(4) Justice minister defends Trudeau after ethics commissioner report
