OTTAWA – Allegations of improper political pressure on former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Jody Wilson-Raybould require a full and independent investigation, Green Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich Gulf Islands) said today.

“At this point, we have only one media story that the Prime Minister’s office pressured Ms. Wilson-Raybould to modify criminal charges against SNC-Lavalin,” said Ms. May. “Canadians need to have faith and trust in our institutions. The only way to restore that trust is through an independent investigation. Just as Prime Minister Chretien launched the Gomery Commission into the sponsorship scandal, Prime Minister Trudeau should establish an arms-length inquiry,” continued Ms May.

“The RCMP should be asked to investigate and report to a person of impeccable, non-partisan credentials. This need not take long. Unlike the sponsorship scandal, there is not a long trail of complex financial dealings to be investigated.

“The following questions demand answers: Was our former Attorney General and Minister of Justice pressured to go easy on SNC-Lavalin? Who applied the pressure? Was she demoted because she stood her ground? And if she faced pressure, did the actions of those individuals who applied the pressure amount to criminal obstruction of justice?”

SNC-Lavalin is charged with bribing government officials in Libya.

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For more information or to arrange an interview contact:

Rosie Emery

Press Secretary

613-562-4916 x206

rosie.emery@greenparty.ca