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“Because SNC‑Lavalin overwhelmingly stood to benefit from Ms. Wilson-Raybould’s intervention, I have no doubt that the result of Mr. Trudeau’s influence would have furthered SNC-Lavalin’s interests. The actions that sought to further these interests were improper since the actions were contrary to the constitutional principles of prosecutorial independence and the rule of law,” the report says.

Dion’s report also said he was denied access to sensitive government information by Privy Council Clerk Ian Shugart.

“During this examination, nine witnesses informed our office that they had information they believed to be relevant, but that could not be disclosed because, according to them, this information would reveal a (cabinet) confidence,” he wrote in the report.

“In a letter dated June 13, 2019, the clerk of the Privy Council declined my request for access to all cabinet confidences in respect of this examination. Mr. Trudeau’s legal counsel indicated that the decision on whether to expand the waiver was made by the Privy Council Office without the involvement of the prime minister or his office.”

The scandal, which erupted Feb. 7 after the Globe and Mail reported the allegation of improper pressure on Wilson-Raybould, has rocked Trudeau’s government for much of the year. Trudeau lost two high-profile cabinet ministers, Wilson-Raybould and Treasury Board president Jane Philpott, who both resigned and then were kicked out of the caucus. His principal secretary and close friend Gerald Butts resigned on Feb. 18, saying he had done nothing wrong but didn’t want to be a distraction. (Butts has since joined the Liberal re-election campaign as an unpaid adviser.) Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick announced his early retirement on March 18 after opposition parties accused him of partisan testimony over the SNC-Lavalin affair.