Thread by @DavidHamer_1951

In 35 years as a lawyer doing nothing but contentious cases, not once did I secretly tape record a client or anyone else, nor, as best I recall, did I ever tape record anyone, certainly never without their consent. And I dealt with lots of dubious types. #cdnpoli #SNCLavalin

If I wanted a precisely contemporaneous record of a conversation, I would have a colleague present visibly taking notes. If I wanted a close record of a phone call, I would have someone present and announced and one of us immediately dictate a memo to file. #cdnpoli #SNCLavalin

Seems we had as AG an inexperienced lawyer (only 3 years as a prosecutor) who really didn’t know how to conduct themselves in the real world. We’ve all met people who, after reading a textbook, think they know it all but can’t find their way out of a brown paper bag. #SNCLavalin

As a lawyer, if the AG believed the Wernick call (or any other) was improper, even apart from Shawcross, there was an obligation to ‘report up the ladder’ about it in writing: ie in this case, directly to the Prime Minister.#cdnpoli #SNCLavalin

This AG didn’t, and offers no explanation for the failure to do so. Instead, the AG sat on the secret tape, waiting for a belated moment to deploy it post-office. #cdnpoli #SNCLavalin

And as a politician, the former AG/Minister of Veterans Affairs hasn’t a clue. This MP needs to leave the Liberal caucus now, along with Dr. Philpott. #cdnpoli #SNCLavalin

As to Mr. Wernick’s actual words, having read and re-read Shawcross, I heard nothing wrong. Others are entitled to disagree and one has to respect that, but they aren’t entitled to claim that it shook the very foundations of civilization à la Coyne and Fife.
#cdnpoli #SNCLavalin

To clarify this item: ‘up the ladder’ in this context meant up Wernick’s ladder in the PCO/PMO - ie to the PM. Just as corporate lawyers are schooled to report up the ladder within the corporate client if they learn an employee lower down is doing something wrong.