Article content continued

Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Chantal Gagnon said Trudeau did not ask Wernick to step down.

Photo by Dave Chan/Getty Images

The announcement of Wernick’s retirement comes on the same day Trudeau took another step to contain the fallout from the SNC-Lavalin affair, appointing former Liberal cabinet minister Anne McLellan as a “special advisor” to examine whether the roles of attorney general and justice minister should be held by the same person.

McLellan, who served in many cabinet roles — including as justice minister — in the governments of Jean Chretien and Paul Martin, will also be examining “the role of public servants and political staff in their interactions with the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.” She will give recommendations to Trudeau by June 30, 2019.

In another sign the Liberals are looking to move past the scandal, Liberal MPs on the Commons justice committee released a letter Monday evening indicating they will wrap up the committee’s study without inviting Wilson-Raybould back to testify a second time. Opposition MPs have demanded Wilson-Raybould be given another chance to speak, with the Conservatives threatening to use “all of the tools at our disposal,” but the Liberals have a voting majority on the committee and can control its agenda.

“As Committee members, we have achieved our objectives with respect to these meetings,” says the Liberals’ letter. “Canadians now have the necessary information to arrive at a conclusion. As Parliamentarians, we respect the work of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and believe the ongoing study by this independent Officer of Parliament is now the appropriate way forward.”

The letter says it has already heard “13 hours of comprehensive testimony from 10 different witnesses.” That included two appearances by Wernick, but only one from Wilson-Raybould.

Wernick has had a nearly 40-year career in the civil service, serving in many senior positions, including eight years as deputy minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Trudeau appointed him as Canada’s top civil servant in January 2016, a few months after the Liberals formed government.