How Justin Trudeau Imperiled His Own Re-Election

A scandal that threatens to derail Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s bid for re-election returned to the headlines at a particularly sensitive time. Following a months-long investigation, Canada’s ethics watchdog found that Trudeau had inappropriately interfered in a judicial matter, a conclusion that reignited criticism of his dominant Liberal Party as overly cozy with big business. The case has taken a toll on Trudeau’s brand as one of most progressive leaders in Canada’s history, just months before the Oct. 21 federal election.

The controversy centers around a series of conversations Trudeau and aides had late in 2018 with the country’s then-attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, and her staff over whether to let SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. settle a fraud and corruption case out of court. SNC is a major engineering and construction company based in Trudeau’s hometown of Montreal. Wilson-Raybould said she faced “veiled threats” about what might happen if she refused to order public prosecutors to settle the case through a deferred prosecution agreement that would allow SNC-Lavalin to continue to receive federal government contracts. Trudeau said his interest in SNC’s fate was based on his desire to avoid job losses. Trudeau transferred Wilson-Raybould to minister of veterans affairs in January, and she resigned from the government a month later.