CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his new attorney general could still negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement with embattled Quebec engineering firm SNC-Lavalin.
During a news conference held at the Charlottetown headquarters of BioVectra Inc. on Monday, Trudeau did not contradict recent statements made by Attorney General David Lametti. During an interview on Sunday with Global News, Lametti said that, on matters related to the SNC-Lavalin case, “no decision is ever final”.
When asked about those remarks, Trudeau chose to focus his comments on the need to defend Canadian jobs.
"We are always going to stand up for good jobs, create good jobs and defend Canadians' interests," Trudeau said.
"This matter is to be determined by the attorney general. That is what I said to the former attorney general, and that's something the current attorney general knows full well."
Watch Trudeau take questions from the media in Charlottetown in the video below:
Trudeau’s government has faced a growing scandal, brought about in part by the decision of his previous attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, not to negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement with SNC-Lavalin. The agreement would have allowed the company to avoid criminal prosecution, which would have barred the company from bidding on federal contracts.
Wilson-Raybould testified before a commons committee that she was “hounded” by staff and officials of the Trudeau government, who feared the prosecution could jeopardize jobs in Quebec. She was removed from her role as attorney general in a January cabinet shuffle.
Trudeau also spoke about the upcoming implementation of the Pensions for Life program for military veterans. The program is due to be implemented, starting April 1.
However, a recent report by Parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux suggested severely disabled veterans could have their benefits slashed under the new program.
“Every single veteran currently receiving benefits will at least be as well off under the new system as they were under the previous system,” Trudeau said on Monday.
“Many will actually be better off. That is the commitment we made to Veterans. That is what we are delivering on as of April 1st.”
Trudeau also took questions about the detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor by Chinese authorities. Chinese state media have reported the two men acted together to steal state secrets.
Trudeau said he continues to be concerned about the fate of the two men.
Finally, Trudeau did not commit to offering a reduction in Confederation Bridge tolls. The issue has been raised repeatedly in Ottawa by P.E.I. Senator Percy Downe.
Earlier in the day, Trudeau spoke at a fundraising breakfast for the Liberal Party.
During the event, he cast the record of his government in a positive light.
"We have the lowest unemployment in 40 years. We've created almost 900,000 new jobs over the past three and a half years and we've lifted over 825,000 people across the country (out of poverty)," Trudeau said at the morning event.
Outside the meeting, two different groups of demonstrators attempted to paint Trudeau’s leadership in a different light.
About 10 members of the environmental group Extinction Rebellion briefly blocked traffic on Queen Street, while two members of the group Yellow Vests P.E.I. stood quietly outside the front lobby of the hotel.
Daphnée Azoulay of the group Extinction Rebellion, said her group was opposed to the support of the Trudeau government for the Kinder Morgan pipeline in B.C.
“We’re here because Justin Trudeau is supporting the building of a pipeline on Indigenous territory,” Azoulay said.
Donnie Johnston of Yellow Vests P.E.I., said he was dissatisfied with the lack of support for the Energy East pipeline project from the Trudeau government.
Trudeau also met with employees from the Veterans Affairs headquarters in Charlottetown on Monday morning.
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