Andrew Scheer calls on Liberal MPs to further probe SNC-Lavalin affair

MONCTON, N.B. — Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is trying to put pressure on Liberal MPs on the federal ethics committee to continue the investigation into the SNC-Lavalin affair.

The call comes with just weeks to go before the federal election, and follows the release of a scathing report from the country’s ethics commissioner, who concluded the prime minister violated the Conflict of Interest Act.

Mario Dion’s report said Justin Trudeau’s attempts to influence then-Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould on the matter contravened section 9 of the act, which prohibits public office holders from using their position to try to influence a decision that would improperly further the private interests of a third party.

In a news conference in Moncton, New Brunswick, on Friday, the Tory leader singled out the six Liberal MPs on the committee, and asked Canadians to launch a grassroots campaign to force them to agree to an investigation into Trudeau’s actions.

“Time and time again, he has abused the power of his office to reward his supporters and punish his critics,” Scheer said. “So it’s time for the Liberals on the ethics committee to make a stand. Do what is right, and do what Canadians expect of you.”

An emergency committee meeting is expected next week. While the two opposition parties have enough members on the committee to force an emergency meeting, the Liberals hold a majority of seats.

This committee already held hearings in the spring which led to explosive testimony from the prime minister’s right hand man, Gerald Butts, and former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould.

Scheer believes the prime minister is going to “great lengths to cover up the full truth from coming out.”

“There are nine witnesses who were unable to participate, to cooperate with the ethics investigation, because Justin Trudeau refused to grant them permission to do so,” Scheer said.”

Scheer says Trudeau “betrayed the trust” of Canadians and the Liberal party, adding he believes there’s more than enough evidence of misconduct to warrant an investigation by the RCMP.

Conservative and New Democrat MPs demanded an emergency meeting of the ethics committee to delve into Dion’s report.

Trudeau has said he accepts the report and responsibility for what happened, but he disagrees with some of the Dion’s conclusions — most notably, that he shouldn’t have had contact with his attorney general over the affair.

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