RCMP never tried to interview Justin Trudeau as part of SNC-Lavalin scandal probe, ethics committee told
‘I have never heard of any investigation where there wasn’t any attempt to interview the person of interest,’ said Conservative MP Larry Brock
OTTAWA — The RCMP did not interview Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before concluding that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate a criminal offence in the SNC-Lavalin scandal, top officials confirmed in a House of Commons committee hearing on Tuesday.
In fact, the federal police interviewed only four individuals, one of whom was former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, and they did not even attempt to get Trudeau’s testimony.
The revelation raised eyebrows among Conservatives at the ethics committee who wondered why the RCMP did not get to the heart of the allegations of political interference from the Prime Minister’s Office against Wilson-Raybould that shocked the country five years ago.
“In my over 30 years of experience as a defence counsel and a Crown attorney, I have never heard of any investigation where there wasn’t any attempt — whether they agree to interview or not — to interview the person of interest,” said Conservative MP Larry Brock.
RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme and Sergeant Frédéric Pincince, who oversaw the investigation into SNC-Lavalin, were supposed to testify last October but the Liberals shut down the meeting because, they claimed, their appearance was confirmed at the last minute.
When the SNC-Lavalin affair erupted in 2019, the RCMP investigated whether Trudeau had breached any criminal laws in pressuring Wilson-Raybould to let the Montreal construction firm benefit from a deferred prosecution agreement to avoid a criminal prosecution.
The offences the RCMP was looking into were obstruction of justice and the intimidation of a justice system participant.
What an embarrassingly pathetic revelation. A Grade 12 educated Canadian prairie born and raised RCMP recruit fresh off finishing the fall harvest on his Dad’s combine would have immediately zeroed in on PM Trudeau for interview. Oh, wait a minute. That’d be Canadians that used to comprise the backbone of the RCMP. Canadians that rightfully earned for both the RCMP and Canada the world wide respect and admiration from foreign law enforcement. Tragically, as evidenced here when it comes to modern RCMP recruitment goals they are ‘persona no grata’. Welcome to the new woke progressive DEI focused and dangerously close if not already FUBAR, RCMP.
But it doesn’t begin or end just there. It actually began decades ago. The majority of RCMP recruits, on such a momentous day to us placed our right hand on the Bible and committed ourselves to this solemn Oath. We said what we meant and we meant what we said. Sadly, there’s ‘enough’ (for whatever reasons) who for them these words were but a necessary formality.
Oath of Office I,, solemnly swear that I will faithfully, diligently and impartially execute and perform the duties required of me as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and will well and truly obey and perform all lawful orders and instructions that I receive as such, without fear, favour or affection of or toward any person.