OTTAWA—Justin Trudeau spoke with Jody Wilson-Raybould to discuss “next steps” in the same week that Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick announced his retirement, former Liberal cabinet minister Anne McLellan was named to examine justice reforms and the Liberals shut down a committee’s investigation of the SNC-Lavalin controversy.Trudeau said Monday that their conversation last week was amicable, but he did not reveal any details, including whether Wilson-Raybould asked for and was denied an extended waiver to allow her to speak further.“I was very pleased to have a conversation last week with Mme. Wilson-Raybould and talk to her about next steps and it was a very cordial conversation,” Trudeau said in Maple Ridge, B.C.It is not clear when their conversation took place, nor where. It is also unclear what “next steps” Trudeau referred to. A spokesperson later said the prime minister had requested the meeting to give Wilson-Raybould a head’s up about the “steps he would be taking later that day before it was in the news.”There were key moves on the file last week, including the appointment of McLellan as an outside adviser to study splitting the roles of attorney general and justice minister; the retirement of Wernick, whom Wilson-Raybould has accused of making “veiled threats” against her; and the Liberal members of the justice committee’s intention to end oral hearings without recalling her.Also last week, Joyce Murray was named to cabinet as President of the Treasury Board and minister of digital government. Murray took over the role from Toronto-area MP Jane Philpott, who resigned from the post in February over Trudeau’s handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair.Read more:SNC-Lavalin scandal creates opening for Conservatives, Scheer tells conferenceChantal Hébert: Liberal path to re-election runs through NDP territoryHeather Mallick: Why does Jane Philpott keep knifing her f ...
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