OTTAWA—Opposition leaders are pressing Justin Trudeau to waive cabinet confidences covering documents and witnesses related to the SNC-Lavalin controversy to ensure the RCMP has full access to all evidence in its examination of the affair.

As Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau launched his bid for a second term in office Wednesday, the controversy that had dogged the government earlier this year was back in the headlines with a report in the Globe and Mail that the Mounties had hit a roadblock in their inquiries because of cabinet confidences.

In a report last month, federal Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion said that the prime minister violated ethics rules for improperly trying to influence former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould to offer SNC-Lavalin a deferred prosecution agreement that would allow the company to avoid possible criminal prosecution.

Much of what transpired is covered by cabinet confidence, meant to keep private the discussions of cabinet ministers and senior officials about sensitive government matters.

Yet the Liberal government provided a narrow waiver to allow Wilson-Raybould to testify before a parliamentary committee though she said she was still limited in what she could say.

In his report, Dion noted that the government’s refusal to fully waive cabinet confidences had stymied his own investigation.

In a statement Wednesday, Department of Justice spokesperson Ian McLeod said the RCMP was granted the same access that was provided to the ethics commissioner and the parliamentary committee. “The decision to do so was made solely by the Clerk of the Privy Council as guardian of cabinet confidences,” McLeod said.

Standing outside Rideau Hall Wednesday, Trudeau defended the extent of the government’s disclosures on the issue and said such decisions were made by Clerk of the Privy Council.

“We gave out the largest and most expansive waiver of cabinet confidence in Canada’s history,” he said.

“We respect the decisions made by our professional public servants. we respect the decision made by the clerk,” Trudeau said.

In a statement last month, the RCMP stopped short of saying it was conducting a formal investigation into possible criminal wrongdoing. Instead, the force said it was “examining this matter carefully with all available information and will take appropriate actions as required.”

Asked about the matter on Wednesday, the RCMP declined to comment. Wilson-Raybould herself has said that she had been interviewed by the police force earlier in the spring.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer jumped on the latest news with a renewed attack on Trudeau’s handling of the scandal, demanding the prime minister waive cabinet confidence for any potential police investigation.

“He needs to stop hiding behind the Clerk of the Privy Council,” Scheer said. “He has done everything he can to keep these facts hidden from Canadians.”

“Justin Trudeau must allow the RCMP to do its job. And he must immediately waive privilege and cabinet confidentiality,” Scheer said.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he was “disappointed” with the hurdles faced by the RCMP and said it underscores why he has called for a public inquiry into the matter.

“Canadians want to know the truth. And right now it seems that more and more there’s barriers being put up by the prime minister. He’s got to answer for that,” Singh said.

“I would hold a public inquiry. I would ensure that all confidentiality was waived so that anyone that wants to come forward who has information about this scandal can come forward,” he said.

In his own examination affair, Dion complained that he too was frustrated in getting the whole story because nine witnesses were unable to speak freely when the government refused to waive cabinet confidentiality.

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Dion appealed to the Privy Council Office and says he raised the issue directly with Trudeau. Ultimately, Dion was denied access to the information he sought though Trudeau’s lawyer insisted the decision was made by the Privy Council Office without the involvement of the prime minister or his office.

Still, Dion was unhappy at being shut out, saying he was prevented from assessing all relevant evidence.

“If our office is to remain truly independent and fulfil its purpose, I must have unfettered access to all information that could be relevant to the exercise of my mandate. I must be satisfied that decisions made by the most senior public office holders, including those discussed at cabinet, are free from any conflicts of interest,” Dion wrote in his report.

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