OTTAWA— The Commons justice committee voted to limit any investigation of allegations of improper political influence on former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould, and for now neither Wilson-Raybould nor the prime minister’s top political aides will be called to testify.The vote came after a Liberal MP said the Conservatives were embarking on a “fishing expedition” and a “witch hunt” in their bid to hold hearings and summon nine witnesses — including senior PMO, justice department and privy council officials — to tell their stories under oath. Instead, Liberal MPs voted to hear from just three officials: current Justice Minister David Lametti, his deputy minister Nathalie Drouin, and the Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick, who serves as Trudeau’s top public servant and deputy minister. The committee will also take a broad look at the legal rules and standards that apply to how an attorney general interacts with political colleagues, and hear legal opinions on how their work could impact current court proceedings involving SNC-Lavalin, but that would be conducted in private.The committee meets again next week and will consider the possibility of expanding the witness list, but Liberal MPs — who have a majority on the committee — voted 5-4 to support a motion by Liberal Randy Boissonault, to channel discussions away from Wilson-Raybould’s as-yet untold version of events.Boissonault, MP for Edmonton Centre, accused Conservative party members on the Commons justice committee of trying to conduct a “fishing expedition” and a “witch hunt” into the SNC-Lavalin affair as the prime minister insisted publicly his government had broken no rules in its dealings with the former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould.As three-hour drama in committee was unfolding, the prime minister was on the defensive in Sudbury, where he insisted his office had done no wrong.Trudeau sa ...
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