Thank you.
Evidence of meeting #135 for Justice and Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was general.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #135 for Justice and Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was general.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
That concludes the second round. We have already agreed that we're going to do a third round.
Ms. May mentioned this to me, and I saw Mr. Fortin putting up his hand. In the past, in the very last round of questions when we realized we were in our last round, we've asked the committee for consent for the Bloc Québécois to ask a question here. When we get to what the committee agrees is its last round of question, I will ask the committee members at the end if they agree to that and that's where we'll go. We won't do it every round.
We're now in our third round. The third round is six minutes to the Conservatives, six to the Liberals, six to the NDP and six to the Liberals.
Ms. Raitt.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Given the testimony that you provided for us today, Ms. Wilson-Raybould, I have to ask about whether or not you were approached by the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister's Office, or the Clerk of the Privy Council and given any directions, directives or suggestions on the conduct of the Mark Norman trial or any other trial that was within your bailiwick as the Attorney General?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Jody Wilson-Raybould Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
I'm not at liberty, due to confidences, to discuss any matters beyond SNC and for prosecution agreements.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
Thank you.
For clarity, can you tell us what you discussed with the Prime Minister at your meetings in Vancouver on February 11?
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
Can you tell us what was discussed with the cabinet on February 19?
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
If the issues surrounding your ability to communicate these conversations to this committee were resolved and you were able to be released from cabinet confidence or from privilege, would you be willing to return to this committee and give us testimony again?
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
I'm wondering as well, Ms. Wilson-Raybould, if when the Clerk was speaking with you in those communications—I know I've asked you already but I want to be crystal clear—he was speaking with the full weight and the authority of the Prime Minister, and it was your understanding that the Prime Minister was speaking through the Clerk to you.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Jody Wilson-Raybould Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
I can only go by what the Clerk said to me in that conversation where he invoked the Prime Minister in relaying messages from the Prime Minister.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
If I may clarify, in your statement you have delineated these for us, the things the Clerk was saying on behalf of the Prime Minister. They are contained in your statement before us today.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
A couple of times you have mentioned your phone call on January 7 with the Prime Minister about not being the Attorney General any longer. You've indicated a couple of times that you didn't want to talk about what the contents of the conversation were. I respect that. I'm not going to ask you a third time.
Can you tell us why—under what authority—you are saying that you don't want to disclose the conversation, just so that I can understand whether or not you are bound by something else, so that we can perhaps take that roadblock out of the way to get your full testimony?
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Jody Wilson-Raybould Liberal Vancouver Granville, BC
I'm not going to provide legal advice to the committee, but I am going by the order in council and the waiver that were provided around SNC and deferred prosecution agreements, and I am able to speak about any conversations held around those topics when I was the Attorney General.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
I'm sorry. My apologies. That's correct.
I fully understand the relationship between chief of staff and minister, and it was pretty awesome that she decided to move with you to Veterans Affairs, I'm just saying. It was very nice.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Lisa Raitt Conservative Milton, ON
Yes, it was very awesome.
What I would like to know, though, is whether she indicated to you that in her conversations with Ms. Telford and Mr. Butts—and I know it's hearsay, but you do have testimony talking about her text to you—she had fear about whether or not she would still have a job as a chief of staff if she didn't convince you to review the decision on interfering with the trial that was ongoing.