OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived on the Hill today to calls from the opposition to launch a public inquiry into the allegations of PMO interference in a criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, and questions from reporters over the resignation of his closest adviser.

Tuesday is the first day that Parliament has been in session since the scandal broke, and the opposition Conservatives and New Democrats say that many key questions remain unanswered, and even more prompted by the high-profile resignation of Gerald Butts, Trudeau's principal secretary.

Butts, a longtime friend of the prime minister, has denied the allegations that he or anyone in the PMO pressured Jody Wilson-Raybould -- who was the attorney general at the time -- to have federal prosecutors pursue a remediation agreement rather than criminal prosecution in the corruption and fraud case against the Quebec engineering and construction giant.

Wilson-Raybould is on the Hill today, and spoke briefly to reporters after meeting with her former ministerial colleagues, a request Trudeau said she made.

Wilson-Raybould confirmed she remains a member of the Liberal caucus but would not say whether she was pressured by the PMO, citing ongoing consultation with her legal counsel.

"Clearly there's something that the Prime Minister’s trying to hide. For the past ten days he's been asking us to take his word for his version of events. There's clearly more here than he's willing to admit and its time Canadians got answers," Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer told reporters on his way in to West Block.

In the House of Commons, Scheer spoke at length about the importance of the rule of law, and alleged that Trudeau’s office may have engaged in an obstruction of justice. That allegation has not been backed up by any evidence to date, as various Liberal MPs have stated when asked about the case.

He was speaking in support of an opposition day motion that the NDP has tabled on the SNC-Lavalin affair.

The NDP opposition motion calls for the government to launch an independent public inquiry, similar to the commission that occurred as part of the Liberal sponsorship scandal in the early 2000s.

The motion also implores the prime minister to waive solicitor-client privilege to allow Wilson-Raybould to speak.

"That the House: (a) call on the Prime Minister to waive solicitor-client privilege for the former Attorney General with respect to allegations of interference in the prosecution of SNC-Lavalin; and (b) urge the government to launch a public inquiry, under the Inquiries Act, in order to provide Canadians with the transparency and accountability promised by the Liberals in the 2015 election campaign," the full text of the motion reads.

To date Wilson-Raybould has cited that mechanism, given she was the former lawyer to the government, as the reason she has been able to comment on any of the allegations that have arisen before, and after her resignation from cabinet last week.

"For a government that is pleading their innocence, they sure are acting guilty," said the NDP sponsor of the motion, MP Charlie Angus told reporters in the West Block foyer. He said Butts' resignation cannot be overstated and that the allegations have corroded public confidence in the Canadian judicial system.

"When Canadians are expecting politicians to do better and they've got a prime minister who promised to do better, they are paying attention," Angus said.

Debate on this motion will continue through the day, pausing only for question period which has completely dominated by SNC-Lavalin questions and Butts' resignation.

Meanwhile, this afternoon, the House Justice Committee is holding a closed-door meeting to discuss next steps for its probe. On Tuesday afternoon, a Liberal MP on the Justice Committee tweeted that she has given notice at the committee of a motion to invite Wilson-Raybould to appear.

Last week's meeting saw the Liberal majority vote to limit the scope and witness list of its study into the case and the broader surrounding legal principals in a way that the opposition has characterized as a "cover-up."

The opposition parties wanted to have the committee hear testimony from Wilson-Raybould and other key figures in the Prime Minister's Office. Instead the only witnesses they’ve agreed to hear from are current Justice Minister David Lametti, his deputy minister at Justice Canada, and Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick.

Conservatives on the committee will try again today to get approval for their full desired witness list that includes several others who are believed to be at the centre of this affair, including Butts, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister Mathieu Bouchard, and former ministerial Chief of Staff to Wilson-Raybould, Jessica Prince.

Liberal cabinet praise Gerald Butts

Several Liberal ministers voiced their praise and respect for Butts as they arrived on Parliament Hill for the first in-person federal cabinet meeting since the story erupted 12 days ago. Many offered comments signaling they are keen to return to focusing on the mandate they were elected to fulfill, with just over eight months until the next federal election.

"It's obviously a sad moment for me and Gerry’s many friends and people who really admire the tremendous work he's done for Canada. Having said that, you know, our work goes on," said Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Butts said the allegation is distracting from the work Trudeau and his government are doing and so it’s in the best interest of the office of the prime minister that he step aside.

The allegations were reported by The Globe and Mail 11 days ago, citing anonymous sources. CTV News has not independently verified the story. Butts was not specifically named in the initial report.

Though, the PMO had told reporters last week that Wilson-Raybould raised the SNC-Lavalin case with Butts in December, and that at that time he had told her to raise it with the clerk of the Privy Council. Trudeau has also said that Wilson-Raybould had asked him in the fall if he planned on telling her what to do in regards to the case, to which he said it was a decision only she could make.

Public Services and Procurement Minister Carla Qualtrough said she has worked closely with Butts and that he's a "good guy," who has "done a lot for our government."

"He's been remarkably effective at guiding this government towards the types of policies that make a big impact for Canadians," said Minister of Families, Children and Social Development Jean-Yves Duclos.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau said that he has “an enormous amount of respect for Gerry Butts.”

"My sense is that he's decided, I think appropriately, to defend himself against people saying things that just aren't true," Morneau said.

Asked if she still has confidence in the PMO, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said "absolutely.”"

Trudeau arrived at West Block for the cabinet meeting early on Tuesday and offered no comment on the departure of his closest adviser when asked by CTV News reporters both inside and outside the building.

Other than the handful of ministers who stopped to respond to reporters’ questions, the 35-member cabinet largely passed by without comment. The cabinet meeting ran around an hour later than usual on Tuesday. An official told CTV News that more information will be made available about the cabinet meeting and Wilson-Raybould’s presence, later today.

Asked whether this scandal is taking away focus from the Liberals' legislative agenda--as there are just 59 House of Commons sitting days left in this Parliament—Government House Leader Bardish Chagger said she will remain focused on passing bills.

As for whether or not the Liberal majority will support the opposition motion, it's something Chagger said she is "looking at."

The vote on the motion for a public inquiry is expected on Wednesday, and will likely have the backing of the opposition parties. It remains to be seen whether any backbench Liberals will follow suit.

JUST IN: Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau got here early today for cabinet, didn't comment on @gmbutts resignation. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/Abm2U21h7f

— Rachel Aiello (@rachaiello) February 19, 2019

Parliament resumes today, with Senators taking their seats in the new chamber for the first time this year. In the House of Commons MPs will spend much of the day debating this NDP motion calling for a public inquiry into the SNC-Lavalin affair. https://t.co/GMlfZnGEkT #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/exYhrFzp54

— Rachel Aiello (@rachaiello) February 19, 2019

Govt House Leader @BardishKW says the Liberals will "look at" the Oppo motion and she will talk to Justice Minister @DavidLametti about whether they will support it. Asked if this affair distracts from her legislative agenda, she says that's what she remains focused on. #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/uAIwz50hTz

— Rachel Aiello (@rachaiello) February 19, 2019

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