Trudeau mulls Wilson-Raybould's fate in Liberal caucus as Scheer makes formal bid for RCMP probe

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he is considering whether Jody Wilson-Raybould can remain in the Liberal caucus, as the Conservatives make a formal request for the RCMP to launch a criminalinvestigation following her testimony in the SNC-Lavalin affair.

Taking questions from reporters Thursday after an event at the Canadian Space Agency in St. Hubert, Que., Trudeauagain took issue with Wilson-Raybould's version of events, and said he was taking time to consider her status.

"I have taken knowledge of her testimony and there are still reflections to have on next steps," he said.

MPs will hold an emergency debate tonight on Wilson-Raybould'sdamning testimony before the Commons justice committee, where the former justice minister alleged improper political interference and "veiled threats" by the Prime Minister's Office and government officials.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheerhas asked for Trudeau's resignation and for a police investigation. Today, he wrote to the RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki formally requesting an investigation into possible Criminal Code offences related to provoking fear in an attorney general and obstructing or defeating the course of justice.

"She confirmed veiled threats of consequences if she did not bend to the political wishes of the Liberal Party and the financial interests of the shareholders of SNC-Lavalin. It was also clear that these actions rose to the highest ranks of the government," Scheer wrote.

RCMP reviewing request

The RCMP acknowledged receiving the letter and said the commissioner is reviewing it.

Meanwhile, late Thursday, two former federal attorneys generalPeter MacKay, who served in the role under Prime Minister Stephen Harper,and DouglasGrinsladeLewis,who served under Prime Minister Brian Mulroneypenned a letter to theRCMPasking for a police investigation into the matter.

The letter was also signed by three former provincial attorneys general: Jonathan Denis, Progressive Conservative, from Alberta;Cecil Clarke, Progressive Conservative, from Nova Scotia;and Colin Gabelmann,NDP, from British Columbia.

"We write today to urge you to ensure that you use all resources at your disposal to fully and fairly investigate any potential criminality and provide Canadians with the truth in this crucial matter, as it strikes at the core of the rule of law and independence of our justice system," the letter said.

NDP Leader JagmeetSingh has called for a public inquiry.

During a raucous question period today, Scheerexpressed outrage that Trudeau was not in the House of Commons to answer questions as the controversy rages, calling it "disgusting."

During her committee appearance, Wilson-Raybould offered few details on why she resigned from Trudeau's cabinet.

"I resigned from cabinet because I did not have confidence to sit around the cabinet table, that's why I resigned," she said.

She declined to explain why she quit cabinet or disclose details of her conversations with the prime minister prior to her resignation. But she described experiencing "heightened anxiety" as she waited for the "other shoe to drop."

She said that one week before a Jan. 14 cabinet shuffle,she received a call fromTrudeauadvising her she was being moved from the justice portfolio.

"I will not go into details of this call, or subsequent communications about the shuffle, but I will say that I stated I believed the reason was because of the SNC matter. They denied this to be the case,"she testified.

Trudeau cites Brison's departure

Today, Trudeau again denied her accusation

"Had [former treasury board president]Scott Brison not stepped down, Jody Wilson-Raybouldwould still be minister of justice and attorney general of Canada," he said.

Trudeau repeated his line from last night, when he insisted he and his staff acted professionally and appropriately at all times in dealing with Wilson-Raybould and that he completely disagrees with her characterization of events.

He pointed totwo processes to get more answers that are now underway, the justice committee investigationand the ethics commissioner's probe.

Finance Minister Bill Morneausaid today he never approached Wilson-Raybouldabout SNC-Lavalin, but his staff "appropriately" reached out to her staff to underscore that job losses and pensionswere at stake with her decision.

"My chief of staff's job is to make sure that we engage with other parts of the government to ensure that they understand economic consequences of decisions," he said during a media availability in Toronto.

Wilson-Raybould spoke 'her truth:' Freeland

Earlier today, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freelandsaid she believes Jody Wilson-Raybould spoke "her truth" during stunning testimony beforethe Commons justice committee in Ottawa onWednesday, but Freelandmaintained the prime minister would never exert inappropriate pressure on the former attorney general.

In an interview with CBC Radio's Ottawa Morningon Thursday, Freeland was asked who she believes: Wilson-Raybould or Trudeau.

After Wilson-Raybould delivereda blistering, four-hour account of sustained, intense efforts by the Prime Minister's Office and other government officials that she feels were designedto sway her decision on prosecutingSNC-Lavalin, Trudeaurefuted herversion of events andinsisted he and his staff did nothing wrong.

"I believe that she spoke, as she said she wanted to do, her truth," Freeland told host Robyn Bresnahan.

"Having said that, I am clearly of the view that the prime minister would never apply improper pressure, that the prime minister has always been clear about the unique role of the attorney general, and would respect that."

SNC-Lavalinhad been lobbying for a deferred prosecution agreement to avoid criminal prosecution on bribery charges related to contracts in Libya. A conviction would mean a 10-year ban on bidding for federal procurement projects.

Freelandsaid she has always considered Wilson-Rayboulda valued colleague. She was askedwhat she thought, as a feminist,about the characterization of Wilson-Raybould as "difficult."

"I have never found her to be anything other than a thoughtful colleague whose perspective I have valued," she said. "She is a woman of strong views. I like to think that I am too."

Cabinet minister on JWR's testimony

5 years ago

Duration 7:24

'I know her to be a very thorough, meticulous person,' says Min. of Public Works Carla Qualtrough.

Trudeau apologized to Wilson-Raybould on Feb. 20 for what he called "absolutely unacceptable" comments and cartoons about the former justice minister, saying he wasn't quick enough to condemn them in "unequivocal terms."

Disparaging characterization

Hedidn't specify which comments inspired his apology.

Recently, The Canadian Pressran a storyquoting anonymous sourceswho described Wilson-Raybould as someone who had "become a thorn in the side of the cabinet" before she was shuffled to Veterans Affairs. She was also described as "someone ... [who] was difficult to get along with, known to berate fellow cabinet ministers openly at the table, and who others felt they had trouble trusting."

Several political cartoonists portrayedWilson-Raybouldbound, gagged and beaten a reference to her refusingto comment on the scandal publicly because of solicitor-client privilege.

'Play as a united team'

Asked if Wilson-Raybould should remain in the Liberal caucus after delivering the damning testimony, Freeland said caucus is a "broad church" with diverse views. Cabinet and caucus can share and debate them behind closed doors, but must emerge united.

"At the end of the day, when you leave the room, you have to play as a united team," she said. "I feel very strongly about that because I think being united when we left the room has been extremely important for us on issues like NAFTA."

Freelandwas also asked if the controversy might affect the consideration of Canada as a "rule of law" country and other cases, such as the extradition proceedings against Huawei executive MengWanzhou.

"In the Meng case, our government has been scrupulous," she said."Decisions that are correctly taken at the official, ie. non-political level have been scrupulously taken at the official, non-political level, and there has been no interference, political element to the decision."

Watch cabinet minister Carla Qualtroughdiscuss the testimony on Power & Politics