Bill Kelly: SNC-Lavalin affair has Justin Trudeau on defence again

Make no mistake about it — there are serious allegations to be answered about how Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government dealt with the legal problems of Quebec mega-company SNC-Lavalin.

It’s highly likely that the issue was discussed by the prime minister and senior cabinet members, but that’s not unusual given the possible ramifications if SNC-Lavalin has the book thrown at it for influence peddling and bribery on foreign soil.

Such an outcome could be catastrophic for thousands of Canadian workers and investors and any Canadian government would be concerned.

READ MORE: Ethics commissioner launches investigation into allegations of PMO interference in SNC-Lavalin case

So, the question isn’t whether discussions took place, but rather, what the nature of those discussions was.

If then-attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould was informing the prime minister about her policy on the issue, or discussing options, that’s fair game apparently. But if anyone was trying to exert pressure on Wilson-Raybould to influence the legal proceedings, they crossed the line.

WATCH BELOW: Scheer says Trudeau should let Wilson-Raybould ‘speak for herself’

1:31 Scheer says Trudeau should let Wilson-Raybould ‘speak for herself’

Of course, the opposition parties, like a shark smelling blood in the water, are demanding a parliamentary hearing into the matter. But  such hearings usually become a political circus where the facts are overshadowed by political bombast from all three political parties.

Because of the “he said, she’s not talking” scenario that has developed, we may never get the whole story about what took place. And with an election on the horizon, this is fodder for one more attack ad for the opposition and one more problem for the government.

Bill Kelly is the host of the Bill Kelly Show on Global News Radio 900 CHML.