Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is denying that his office pressured former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to help SNC-Lavalin avoid a criminal prosecution.
The Quebec engineering and construction giant has been facing legal trouble over allegations it paid millions of dollars in bribes to get government business in Libya, which would be a crime under Canadian law.
As attorney general, Wilson-Raybould could have become involved in the case against the company by directing federal prosecutors to negotiate a ``remediation agreement,'' a way of undoing damage without admitting the company itself was at fault for things particular employees did.
The Globe and Mail newspaper reports that SNC-Lavalin repeatedly lobbied Justin Trudeau's aides for a deal and that his office leaned on Wilson-Raybould to make it happen.
No remediation agreement was made and Wilson-Raybould was moved to the veterans affairs post in a January cabinet shuffle.
Trudeau says today the allegations in the story are false, and that neither the current nor the previous attorney general was ever directed by him or anyone in his office to take a decision in this matter.
Neither Wilson-Raybould nor SNC-Lavalin has immediately responded to questions.