Quebec just allowed SNC-Lavalin to escape criminal prosecution. Such an announcement would have hurt Justin Trudeau if it had come before the vote, as it reminds us of a similar crisis he was indulged in in 2019.
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Yesterday, the Director of the Criminal and Criminal Prosecution Office (DPCP) announced the arrests of two former vice presidents of SNC-Lavalin, Norman Morin, and Kamal Francis. They are suspected of offering a $2.23 million bribe to renovate the Jacques-Cartier Bridge between 1997 and 2004.
According to the DPCP, SNC-Lavalin and SNC-Lavalin International bear “criminal responsibility for the actions of their former directors.” But unlike Messrs. Moran and Francis, they risk not having a trial.
Instead, the Crown wants SNC-Lavalin to negotiate a confidential compensation agreement, upheld by the Supreme Court. This may be, for example, a fine.
If this story sounds familiar, it’s because a very similar incident occurred in federal justice rather than regional justice in 2018 and 2019.
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Jodi Wilson-Raybould with Justin Trudeau in 2015 when he was sworn in.
In February 2019, Ottawa’s former attorney general, Jodi Wilson-Raybould, said he had come under “continuous” pressure from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his entourage to obtain a compensation agreement for SNC-Lavalin. Corruption linked to contracts in Libya.
The prime minister wanted to avoid job losses if SNC-Lavalin was criminally convicted and thus disqualified from public contracts.
It is the same argument made yesterday by the DPCP to justify its desire to conclude a reform agreement with the company.
Such an agreement “allows the enterprise to continue doing business and to bid in public tenders. […]It also reduces negative consequences for employees, retirees, customers and shareholders of organizations.”
impossible…
In 2018, Secretary Wilson-Raybould refused to give in to pressure because federal prosecutors wanted to prosecute SNC-Lavalin. She was transferred to another ministry before her resignation from the Council of Ministers.
The crisis led to the washing of dirty clothes in public by federal liberals. I followed them until the general election in October 2019, when they lost their majority in the House of Commons. They were re-elected to another minority term on Monday evening.
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Sophie Laurent is a contributor to Vaughantoday.ca, covering a wide range of topics including local news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events and issues that matter to their communities. Sophie is committed to presenting accurate information, practical insights, and relevant stories in a straightforward and reader-friendly manner, making complex topics accessible to a broad audience.