The Lavscam / SNC-Lavalin Affair (2019): While primarily about the alleged political interference in a criminal prosecution, the scandal had a significant component related to the treatment of women in politics. It led to the resignation of Jody Wilson-Raybould and Jane Philpott from cabinet, highlighting issues of power, gender, and integrity.
A Tale of Two Women: The SNC-Lavalin Scandal That Exposed the Rot in Ottawa
By Eddie Hardie🍁Social Steward | Statecraft Synergist
It was a scandal that had it all: backroom deals, secret recordings, a “knight of the realm” turned political enforcer, and the brutal takedown of two principled women who dared to say “no.” The SNC-Lavalin affair wasn’t just about a corporate giant avoiding justice; it was a primal scream about power, gender, and the rancid smell of hypocrisy that too often permeates the halls of power.
Let’s pull back the gilded curtain on the drama that made Canada’s government look less like a sober second thought and more like a cutthroat episode of Game of Thrones.
The Cast: The Corporation, The Enforcer, and The Upright Minister
First, our villain—or at least, the catalyst for the entire fiasco. SNC-Lavalin, a Quebec-based engineering behemoth, was facing criminal charges for allegedly corrupting Libyan officials with millions in bribes to secure contracts under the Gaddafi regime. The charges were so serious that a conviction would bar the company from federal contracts for a decade, a potential death blow that could cost thousands of jobs.
Enter the “fixer.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the self-styled feminist and champion of reconciliation, who had appointed Jody Wilson-Raybould, a prominent Indigenous leader, as the nation’s first Attorney General and Minister of Justice. It was a landmark, photo-op-ready moment. But when the rubber met the road, the image shattered.
Wilson-Raybould, in her role as the nation’s top legal officer, made a principled decision: the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin would proceed. This was not a suggestion; it was the independent, non-political recommendation of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The rule of law, it seemed, was clear.
But for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the rule of law was apparently more of a gentle guideline.
The Pressure Campaign: A “Veiled Threat” in a Panic Room
What followed was not a simple discussion. It was a sustained and inappropriate pressure campaign—what Wilson-Raybould would later describe under oath as featuring “veiled threats.” For months, she was hounded by the most powerful men in the country.
The cast of characters pressuring her was a who’s-who of Trudeau’s inner circle:
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Michael Wernick, the Clerk of the Privy Council (Canada’s top civil servant), who allegedly told her the PM was “going to find a way to get it done one way or another,” and that he was “very anxious” about the company’s fate.
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Gerald Butts, Trudeau’s best friend and principal secretary.
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Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff.
The pressure was so intense that Wilson-Raybould felt the need to hire an external ethics advisor, a move almost unheard of for a sitting Attorney General. The most bizarre setting for this pressure? A 15-minute meeting in a locked hotel lobby during a political retreat, where Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s chief of staff, Ben Chin, allegedly told Wilson-Raybould’s chief of staff that if SNC-Lavalin didn’t get a deal, “the PM is gonna get it done anyway.”
This wasn’t governance; it was a political shakedown.
The Smoking Gun: A Secret Recording and the “No” That Cost Everything
The most shocking, “scary” moment came when Wilson-Raybould, sensing the walls closing in, made a secret recording of a phone call with Michael Wernick. On the tape, Wernick is heard telling her that the Prime Minister was “quite determined” to secure a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) for SNC-Lavalin.
Listen to a segment of the jaw-dropping recording here: CBC News: Jody Wilson-Raybould’s recorded call with Michael Wernick
Hearing the calm, insistent tone of the country’s top bureaucrat delivering what felt like an ultimatum from the Prime Minister is a chilling lesson in how power truly operates behind the smiling public facade.
When Wilson-Raybould refused to bend, the punishment was swift and brutal. In a January cabinet shuffle, she was unceremoniously demoted from her role as Justice Minister and Attorney General to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs—a move widely seen as a slap in the face for her refusal to play ball. The message was clear: fall in line or be cut down.
The Betrayal: The Resignations That Shook a Nation
The scandal exploded into public view when the Globe and Mail broke the story. Trudeau and his team initially denied everything, offering a masterclass in gaslighting. But Jody Wilson-Raybould would not be silenced. She testified before the House of Justice Committee in a stunning, hours-long testimony that laid bare the rot.
Watch her powerful, damning testimony: CTV News: Jody Wilson-Raybould’s full statement on SNC-Lavalin
Her friend and colleague, Jane Philpott, then President of the Treasury Board, was so disgusted by the treatment of Wilson-Raybould and the government’s lack of integrity that she resigned from cabinet in solidarity. In a devastating op-ed, Philpott wrote she had “lost confidence in how the government has dealt with this matter.”
The two most competent women in Trudeau’s cabinet were now gone, sacrificed on the altar of political convenience. The “feminist” Prime Minister had presided over the destruction of the careers of his most prominent female ministers because they valued ethics over loyalty.
The Mockery of Consequences and the Lasting Stain
Let’s be blunt: the aftermath was a farce. The Ethics Commissioner found Trudeau guilty of breaking Canada’s conflict of interest law, confirming what everyone already knew.
Read the damning Ethics Commissioner’s Report: Report of the Ethics Commissioner – Trudeau II
The commissioner concluded that the PM and his officials used their authority to “circumvent, undermine and ultimately attempt to discredit” the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Yet, Trudeau remained in power. Gerald Butts resigned, only to quietly return to the PM’s orbit later. Michael Wernick resigned, citing eroded trust. But the man at the top? He offered a half-hearted “sorry-not-sorry” and moved on.
Why is this so destructive for the country?
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It Eviscerates the Rule of Law: The scandal screamed that there is one set of rules for powerful corporations and their political allies, and another for everyone else. When a Prime Minister can so blatantly attempt to interfere in a criminal prosecution to save a “friendly” corporation, the very foundation of our justice system cracks.
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It Exposes “Feminism” as a Slogan: Trudeau’s “because it’s 2015” declaration of a gender-balanced cabinet was revealed as a hollow PR stunt. When two strong, ethical women challenged the old boys’ club, they were not heard; they were neutralized. It was a betrayal that resonates with every woman who has been told to be a “team player” while being asked to compromise her principles.
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It Creates a Culture of Fear: The message to every public servant and politician is clear: integrity has a ceiling. Loyalty to the leader and the party brand trumps loyalty to the law and the truth. This chills dissent and ensures that future whistleblowers will think twice before speaking up.
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It Deepens Public Cynicism: For citizens watching this sordid drama, the takeaway is that all politicians are the same. It fuels resentment, apathy, and the dangerous belief that the system is irredeemably rigged.
The SNC-Lavalin affair was more than a political scandal; it was a national morality play. It revealed a government so addicted to its own narrative of progressivism that it was willing to sacrifice its stars to protect it. The real crime wasn’t just the alleged corruption in Libya; it was the undeniable corruption of principle right here in Canada. And for that, the stain will linger long after the headlines have faded.
The Core Players
- SNC-Lavalin: The company facing fraud and corruption charges related to alleged bribes of nearly CA$48 million to Libyan government officials between 2001 and 2011 to secure contracts. A conviction could have led to a potential 10-year ban on bidding for Canadian federal government contracts.
- Jody Wilson-Raybould: The former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. She accused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his top aides of “consistent and sustained effort” to pressure her to intervene in the criminal prosecution and negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) for SNC-Lavalin, which she refused to do, upholding the principle of prosecutorial independence. She later resigned from cabinet and was expelled from the Liberal caucus.
- Justin Trudeau: The Prime Minister of Canada, who, according to the federal Ethics Commissioner’s report, contravened the Conflict of Interest Act by using his position to improperly influence Wilson-Raybould. Trudeau acknowledged “full responsibility” for the way the matter was handled but defended his actions as an effort to protect Canadian jobs.
- Gerald Butts: Trudeau’s former Principal Secretary, who resigned amidst the scandal. He testified that any conversations were only to ensure Wilson-Raybould understood the full economic impact of a conviction, not to influence her decision.
- Michael Wernick: The former Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet. He also resigned ahead of schedule due to the controversy and was involved in calls with Wilson-Raybould regarding the case.
- Kathleen Roussel: The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who initially decided not to invite SNC-Lavalin to negotiate a DPA, citing the “nature and gravity” of the case and the involvement of senior officers.
- Riadh Ben Aïssa: Former executive vice-president of SNC-Lavalin’s construction division. He pleaded guilty in Switzerland to bribery and money laundering charges related to the payments to Al-Saadi Gaddafi, the son of the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
- Stéphane Roy: A former SNC-Lavalin financial controller and vice-president who faced charges in the Libya case; his case was eventually thrown out due to legal delays.
- Sami Bebawi: Another former executive vice-president with the company’s construction division, who was later convicted by a Montreal jury in a separate but related case.
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