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But a trial here or elsewhere would not only expose who knew what and when within the firm; it would also expose who in government might have been involved.

The 2002 conviction of Toronto-based engineering firm Acres International regarding a $12-billion water project in the African country of Lesotho is a case in point. The trial revealed that one of the masterminds of the bribe scheme was none other than Canada’s honorary consul in Lesotho, a cabinet appointee of the Chrétien government. It also revealed our federal government was willing to go to great lengths to defend Acres’ financial interests by enlisting the efforts of the Canadian International Development Agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Canadian Embassy in Washington. The federal government’s support for Acres continued even after its conviction. Its efforts included disparagement by Export Development Canada of the court’s decision and a federal government attempt to prevent the World Bank from debarring Acres from World Bank-funded contracts.

If the government played any role as an accomplice, a promoter, or a wilfully blind contributor to SNC-Lavalin’s corruption, that would be exposed in a trial. Even if government wasn’t criminally culpable, favoured companies like SNC-Lavalin often feel that they are above the law because they have friends in high places.