Prime Minister Justin Trudeau yesterday said his leadership is “about transparency” but would not commit to disclose all records concerning SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. MPs’ attempts to obtain emails, texts and letters have failed to date: “You didn’t really address the point of my question.”
A Québec judge has approved the use of Google Maps in a traffic case, the first of its kind. Allowing Google to be entered as evidence saved the time and expense of having a police officer testify, the Court ruled: “Society evolves.”
Federal Court has rejected an appeal by an astrologer charged a 50 percent penalty for failing to pay his taxes. Claims of financial hardship to void tax bills are rarely upheld by courts or the cabinet: “Although he might not be personally wealthy, he has assets.”
Canada’s senior public servant yesterday claimed to be a victim of cyberbullying. Michael Wernick, $326,000-a year clerk of the Privy Council, waved a half-inch pile of what he depicted as hurtful social media comments in an appearance at the Commons justice committee.
“I would like to present these to the committee,” said Wernick: “I believe you will want to discuss this as the intimidation of a witness before your committee and a breach of the committee’s privileges. You can take that up in camera if you wish. I will be distributing these to the media.”
Wernick and his office declined to release the Tweets and Facebook posts despite multiple requests from Blacklock’s. However, numerous social media commentators using the hashtag #MichaelWernick yesterday wrote fresh posts describing the Clerk as a “liar”, “joke”, “pinhead”, “wimp”, “traitor to the nation”, “condescending bastard” and other insults. “He’s the reason why bureaucrats have a bad name,” read one Tweet.
“I am never accepting that we would normalize the cyberbullying of political officials,” said Wernick. “I have been exposed to it. It upsets me and it angers me.” Replied New Democrat MP Murray Rankin (Victoria): “What that has to do with this matter is a little unclear.”
Wernick appeared for more questioning on allegations he hectored then-Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould to quash a 2018 criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. Wernick denied misconduct but could not recall details of key meetings with Wilson-Raybould or others.
“I do not have an independent recollection,” said Wernick, who cited a poor memory 10 times under questioning: “I do not remember”; “That is not my recollection,” he repeated.
“I state categorically that I have never given advice or done anything for partisan purposes which would suggest to advantage one political party versus another,” said Wernick. Replied Green Party MP Elizabeth May (Saanich-Gulf Islands, B.C.): “I would never suggest for a moment that you were a strong lifetime Liberal or a strong lifetime Conservative. I think your evidence is consistent with being willing to interfere in partisan fashion for whoever is in power.”
Wilson-Raybould in earlier testimony recounted a December 19, 2018 phone call with Wernick in which the Clerk pressed for an out-of-court settlement for SNC-Lavalin, and warned the Prime Minister “is going to find a way to get it done one way or another”: “I warned the Clerk in this call that we were treading on dangerous ground here.” New Democrat MP Charlie Angus (Timmins-James Bay, Ont.) yesterday questioned Wernick on his recollection of the phone call:
Wernick continued there was no evidence he obstructed justice, a criminal act. “I note many members of this committee have said they believe every word of the former Attorney General’s testimony,” said Wernick. “Part of what she testified is she does not believe that any behaviour crossed the threshold of criminal behaviour.”
“That’s the bar? It’s not criminal?” replied MP Angus.
Wernick in February 21 testimony at the same committee similarly said he could not recall details of meetings on SNC-Lavalin, stating “I don’t know” or “I don’t recall” five times under questioning.
By Staff 
The Commons justice committee by a 5 to 4 vote yesterday rejected a Conservative motion to release all emails, texts and letters concerning SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. held by the Prime Minister’s Office. The Liberal majority vote came as former PMO aide Gerald Butts denied trying to block a criminal prosecution of the company to save Liberal seats in Québec: “Why should Canadians believe your version?”
A federal panel yesterday endorsed national pharmacare in principle but did not explain what kind of program should be introduced or when, or how Parliament would pay for it. The report echoed earlier findings of a Commons committee and federal drug price agency: “No, we are not doing a very good job.”
Officials last night blamed a computer glitch for garbling millions of Canada Pension Plan statements. The mistake was made after a premium rate hike took effect January 1: “We apologize for the error.”
Cabinet yesterday ordered all seaplane passengers to wear in-flight lifejackets as recommended by federal crash investigators in a 2011 report. Most seaplane operators surveyed by Transport Canada opposed the measure as costly and unnecessary: “In the 1960s people didn’t want to wear seatbelts in cars, either.”
The Treasury Board says only 51 percent of employees strongly agree their co-workers “act ethically”. Data contained in an internal audit prompted an order that all executives endorse an Every Day Commitment oath stating “Every day, every employee is excited about making an important contribution to Canada.”
One third of Canadians take pick-up jobs like snow shoveling and babysitting at less than the minimum wage, says Bank of Canada research. The Bank attributed the incidence of so-called “informal work” to a weak economy despite cabinet boasts the jobless rate is at its lowest level since 1974: ‘They do so as a result of weak economic conditions.’
Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion in an Advisory Opinion cautions MPs to avoid sweetheart deals in awarding 2019 Canada Summer Jobs grants in their ridings. The notice follows lawsuits against MPs accused of favouritism in rejecting applications from certain groups: “You should not make any recommendation.”
Residents of Victoria, Vancouver and Toronto are the heaviest debtors in the country, Statistics Canada yesterday calculated. Analysts noted Canadian household debt levels overall are worse today than in the United States at the time of the 2008 financial panic: “This is the highest level recorded.”
The Federal Court of Appeal has dismissed a challenge of the Transportation Safety Board’s investigative powers. The operator of a Great Lakes tour boat complained the probe of a minor accident was so intrusive it breached privacy rights: “We’ve cooperated in every way.”
A federal agency in Access To Information records warned of significant cost overruns on the taxpayer-owned Trans Mountain Pipeline, including costs per “day of delay”. A total 601 pages of cost-benefit reports were withheld from MPs and senators: “There continues to be a risk of cost escalation.”
Treasury Board President Dr. Jane Philpott yesterday resigned after describing cabinet’s role in a growing political scandal as indefensible. Philpott is the third official to quit amid allegations of political interference in a criminal case: “Sadly, I have lost confidence in how the government has dealt with this matter.”
