Judge's ruling will see SNC-Lavalin stand trial on corruption charges

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A Quebec judge has ruled that SNC-Lavalin will stand trial on corruption charges, according to a report from The Globe and Mail.

Judge Claude Lebold of the Quebec Court has determined there is sufficient evidence to move ahead with the trial.

The Montreal-based construction and engineering firm has been caught in numerous controversies in recent years over accusations that it practiced widespread bribery for a decade starting in the early-2000s, and it is currently facing criminal charges for its corrupt contracts and practices.

If convicted, SNC-Lavalin could be banned from bidding for federal government contracts for a decade.

This move is the latest step in criminal proceedings that began last fall after the Canadian engineering giant failed to secure a deferred prosecution agreement.

On February 11, an investigation was launched into whether the office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to provide SNC-Lavalin with a reduced punishment stemming from serious corruption charges.

The investigation was launched after Canada’s Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Mario Dion, agreed to the investigation request from the federal NDP.

Following this, Jody Wilson-Raybould, Canada’s former Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of Justice announced her resignation from her position in Trudeau’s cabinet.

Wilson-Raybould was then removed from the Liberal caucus following her resignation.

However, on Monday, May 27, she announced she will run again in this year’s federal election, as an independent candidate.

Wilson-Raybould currently sits as an independent MP for the Vancouver-Granville riding, the same riding she will be seeking re-election in.

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