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At the time, Wilson-Raybould could have legally instructed the public prosecutor to negotiate a remediation agreement — a legal tool in corporate corruption cases, somewhat akin to a plea bargain. It would force the company to pay stiff penalties but avoid a criminal conviction that could financially cripple it.

Within a few days of today’s testimony, Trudeau is expected to weigh in with his take on the affair, giving the most comprehensive accounting of how the SNC-Lavalin matter was handled that he has given yet. His statement could come as early as tonight, but more likely Friday or early next week.

“We’ll be listening carefully to the voices, testimonies and opinions expressed,” Cameron Ahmad, a spokesman for Trudeau, said Tuesday. “There will be more to say in the coming days and weeks as we continue to reflect on next steps.”

Since the furor erupted a month ago, Trudeau has offered only general denials of any wrongdoing. He has said he totally disagrees with Wilson-Raybould’s characterization of events. He has insisted his government balanced the need to respect the independence of the judicial system with its concern about the potential loss of 9,000 jobs if the prosecution of the Montreal engineering giant went ahead. If it’s convicted, SNC-Lavalin could be banned from federal contracts for 10 years.

He sounded a somewhat more conciliatory note at a partisan rally Monday night, a few hours after Treasury Board president Jane Philpott handed in her resignation, citing her loss of confidence in the government’s handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair. He acknowledged that concerns about the way staff and officials conducted themselves “must be taken very seriously and I can assure you that I am.”