Another version of the S-N-C Lavalin saga was presented to the House of Commons justice committee on Wednesday.

Gerald Butts, the prime minister’s former principal secretary, testified that he hopes the evidence he provided can help in the committee’s deliberations, stressing he and other officials didn’t feel anyone was doing anything wrong.
In last week’s bombshell testimony from former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould she claimed she was pressured and threatened by the P-M-O to avoid a criminal trial for S-N-C Lavalin on bribery and fraud charges.
Butts insisted he and others were only trying to persuade Wilson-Raybould to seek independent legal advice, given the potential impact on the company’s thousands of employees and pensioners.
Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota says many constituents are asking questions on this story.

“I have never seen anything like this before. Canadians want an open government. And that means we’re getting a lot of information. It’s going to be interesting how this story evolves,” he says.

He says two ministers have resigned but they remain liberal supporters. He wouldn’t give an opinion on whether Wilson-Raybould should stay in caucus.

Rota was asked if this controversy will be a major election issue. He says the PC’s have whipped up the issue.

“They’ve managed to find something to whip up. They’re doing very well with it but it could blow back into their face. We’ll have to see,” Rota says.

(With files from Canadian Press)

Filed under: Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota, SNC-Lavalin