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Even as his Conservative opponent sought on Monday to have the RCMP examine whether a criminal act was committed over the course of the SNC-Lavalin scandal, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was being received with open arms by the head of the Unifor union in Quebec City.

The largest private-sector union in the country, Unifor has already launched a publicity campaign against Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and his party’s campaign to be elected on Oct. 21.

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In a long speech to Unifor members preceding one delivered by Trudeau, union president Gerry Dias minimized the criticisms levelled at Trudeau over the SNC-Lavalin affair, words that must have come as some comfort to the prime minister, who last week was found to have violated conflict of interest rules by the federal ethics commissioner.

On Monday, Scheer wrote to the RCMP asking them to read the ethics report and decide whether there were grounds for them to investigate the matter.

Conservative and NDP MPs will try on Wednesday to force a parliamentary committee to examine the ethics commissioner’s report.

When it came time for Trudeau to speak to the Unifor members, he made no reference to SNC-Lavalin, preferring to assure his audience that he stands on the side of workers, contrary to the Conservatives who had adopted anti-union laws during the government of Stephen Harper.