The high theatre of the SNC-Lavalin affair has generated critical questions about the rule of law, federal decision-making processes, and the nature of cabinet governance in Canada. The testimony of former Minister of Justice and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights and the competing visions of the controversy being shared by politicians and participants, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has tested Canadians’ understanding of key elements in the legal and political processes in the country. The public debate also raises important questions about the role of women in national politics, cabinet solidarity, and the engagement of Indigenous people in federal political processes. It speaks to influence of major Canadian corporations on Canadian lawmaking and the enforcement of law. The controversy also raises vital questions about the role of the professional public service in Canada in complex and politically-loaded policy decisions.
This panel discussion will examine the Wilson-Raybould and SNCLavalin situation, focusing on the legal and political significance of the current controversy.
Moderator: Dr. Ken Coates (PhD), Professor and Canada Research Chair, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
Panelists:
- Dr. Michael Atkinson (PhD), Professor Emeritus, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy
- Frank Quennell (LLM), Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Government of Saskatchewan; and Sessional Lecturer, College of Law, University of Saskatchewan
- Marilyn Poitras (LLM), Innovator, Ethical Space Maker, Public Speaker
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
10:00 - 11:15 a.m.
Prairie Room, Diefenbaker Building, 101-Diefenbaker Place, University of Saskatchewan
This panel discussion will be videoconferenced to the JSGS University of Regina campus (CB 330).
Event Details
- When:
- Time:
- 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM CST
- Location:
- Prairie Room, 101 Diefenbaker Place, University of Saskatchewan campus; CB 330, College Avenue Campus, University of Regina
- File:
- Download the event communique