RCMP blocked from investigating SNC-Lavalin affair by campaign, federal gov’t: reports
Posted September 11, 2019 3:18 pm.
Last Updated September 11, 2019 3:20 pm.
OTTAWA (680 NEWS) – As the federal election campaign kicks off, new information has come to light on the investigation into the SNC-Lavalin affair.
The RCMP has been trying to investigate an obstruction of justice in the handling of the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, but The Globe and Mail reports it’s being blocked by the federal government’s refusal to lift cabinet confidentiality for all witnesses in the case.
The Globe reports cabinet matters must be kept secret unless a waiver is granted, something the top bureaucrat, their Clerk of the Privy Council, isn’t willing to grant.
RELATED: Liberals block hearings into scathing ethics report on SNC-Lavalin affair
And now with the start of the campaign, the Mounties are forced to pause the investigation due to their own rules regarding the politically sensitive nature of the allegations.
Federal Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion said he faced the same issues as the RCMP in his investigation, and was unable to speak to nine witnesses for full testimony.
Dion still ruled the Prime Minister to be in violation of federal ethics law under the Conflict of Interest Act.
