OTTAWA–Ottawa’s top public servant faced a withering barrage of questions from opposition MPs Wednesday over his role in the SNC-Lavalin affair and allegations of “partisanship” in his defence of the Liberal government’s actions.

Michael Wernick, the clerk of the Privy Council, stated “categorically” that he had “never given advice or done anything for partisan purposes,” in testimony at the House of Commons justice committee Wednesday.

That did not satisfy the opposition Conservatives, New Democrats or Green Leader Elizabeth May, all of whom have called for Wernick’s resignation.

“When we use the word ‘partisan,’ I would never suggest for a moment Mr. Wernick that you were a strong lifelong Liberal or a strong lifetime Conservative,” May said.

“I think your evidence is consistent with being willing to interfere in a partisan fashion for whoever is in power.”

The head of Canada’s public service engaged in at-times heated exchanges with opposition MPs. As clerk of the Privy Council, Wernick is expected to serve the government of the day while remaining above the partisan fray.

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In two separate appearances before the committee over the last two weeks, Wernick has maintained that former justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould was not inappropriately pressured to cut a prosecution deal for SNC-Lavalin.

Wernick said he, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and senior staff in the Prime Minister’s Office were simply flagging the public policy issues that would arise should SNC-Lavalin be convicted on fraud and bribery charges, potentially placing some 9,000 Canadian jobs in peril.

New Democrat MP Murray Rankin said anyone who accepted Wilson-Raybould’s claims would conclude that Wernick “very much crossed the line in respect of an independent attorney general.”

“I respectfully disagree,” Wernick replied.

“I never raised partisan considerations at any time,” he said. “I reminded her repeatedly that she was the final decision maker. I did not attempt to influence her decision. I was giving her relevant context about public interest considerations about a decision that was hers to take, and I never suggested consequences for her.”

Conservative deputy leader Lisa Raitt questioned Wernick about an Oct. 15 phone call between him and Kevin Lynch, who served as clerk of the Privy Council under Stephen Harper and, is now chairman of SNC-Lavalin’s board.

Wernick said SNC-Lavalin is not “a pariah” and it was not “improper to have communications with the company.” He said he told Lynch in the “firmest, curtest possible terms” the company would have to make its case for a deferred prosecution agreement to the attorney general.

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“Can you not see how disturbing this could be that former clerks who are now chairs of boards of SNC-Lavalin had easy access and immediate access into the central office of this government,” Raitt asked. “Do you not see that as a problem for this country?”

“No,” Wernick replied.

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