Democracy Watch has renewed its call for Ontario’s Attorney General to appoint an independent special prosecutor to review evidence related to the prosecution of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in connection with the SNC-Lavalin scandal. Trudeau is accused of pressuring then-Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould to halt the criminal prosecution of SNC-Lavalin, now known as AtkinsRéalis, in 2018.
The scandal raised questions about political interference in the justice system, as Wilson-Raybould resisted attempts to halt the prosecution, which led to her eventual resignation from Cabinet. Democracy Watch is calling for an independent special prosecutor to ensure that the investigation and any potential prosecution of Trudeau are conducted impartially and without political influence. They argue that the current Crown counsel and the RCMP lack the necessary independence to fairly assess the evidence, given the unprecedented nature of prosecuting a sitting or former Prime Minister and the history of what they describe as legally flawed decisions to stop the prosecution process.
In a letter sent on October 15, 2025, to Attorney General Doug Downey and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Randy Schwartz, Democracy Watch requested that an independent special prosecutor be appointed to review their ongoing application in the Ontario Court of Justice. The application seeks court approval to proceed with a private prosecution of Trudeau for alleged obstruction of justice and breach of trust related to the SNC-Lavalin case.
Democracy Watch had initially made this request in March 2025, but it was declined by Randy Schwartz in May. The latest letter urges the Attorney General to form a non-partisan committee, free of political ties, to select a special prosecutor for an impartial and transparent review of the evidence and prosecution decision.
The group criticized a September 2025 decision by John Corelli, Director of the Complex Prosecutions Bureau at Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General, who exercised Crown counsel’s power to halt Democracy Watch’s application. Corelli’s letter did not provide a detailed explanation, but cited a lack of reasonable prospect of proving Trudeau’s criminal intent as the reason for stopping the prosecution.
Democracy Watch disputes the legal standard used, referring to the 2007 Supreme Court ruling in R. v. Beaudry, which states that only a willful act to obstruct justice needs to be proven, not criminal or corrupt intent. It also notes that the RCMP’s previous decision not to prosecute Trudeau was similarly based on incorrect legal reasoning and that the RCMP failed to properly investigate and disclose key evidence during their inquiry.
The organization supports a scheduled “pre-enquête” hearing, where a judge or Justice of the Peace would examine whether there is sufficient evidence to move forward with prosecution. This hearing would allow examination of witnesses, including Wilson-Raybould, her former Chief of Staff Jessica Prince, and former Liberal Cabinet minister Jane Philpott.
Democracy Watch’s letter stresses ongoing concerns about political interference in law enforcement and prosecution of high-profile government officials. It highlights the lack of an independent anti-corruption police and prosecutorial body in Canada, pointing to Quebec’s independent anti-corruption force established in 2011 as a model.
Duff Conacher, co-founder of Democracy Watch, stated the current situation reflects weaknesses in Canada’s legal system related to prosecutorial independence and called for reforms to strengthen anti-corruption enforcement.
The organization awaits a response from Ontario’s Attorney General and continues to advance its private prosecution application as part of its campaign for government ethics and justice reform.
