Binge-Watching SNC

Run out of things to binge-watch? The House Justice Committee hearings on SNC are better than anything else out there. Here's a quick guide to Season 1.

Season 1, Episode 1 - "I can't answer the question"

This episode features the Honourable David Lametti, who replaced Jody Wilson-Raybould as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Nathalie Drouin, Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General. It also features the House of Commons Justice Committee, an ensemble cast which both co-produces and appears throughout the series.

Not essential viewing but you can't miss it if you want to say you watched the whole thing. Press play on the ParlVu link and fast forward to 10:48:45.

Spoiler alert! Ms. Drouin has been asked back for Season 2. No word about Minister Lametti.

Season 1, Episode 2 - "Trolling the vomitorium"

This is actually the continuation of the same Committee session as Episode 1 but it legitimately stands on its own as a separate episode.

This segment features the opening comments and questioning of Michael Wernick, Clerk of the Privy Council, Secretary to the Cabinet, and Canada's most senior civil servant. Mr. Wernick's testimony, particularly his opening comments, have been widely reported but there's lots and lots more here.

In a clever plot twist, Mr. Wernick doesn't know exactly what JWR is going to say when she appears at the Committee. Worst prediction: Ms. Wilson-Raybould will express concerns about three meetings. Missed that by a little. Despite this, Mr. Wernick has also been invited back for Season 2. Starts below at roughly 12:17:50.

Season 1, Episode 3 - "RIP Lord Shawcross."

A day of lawyers with a star-studded field of Mary Condon, the Interim Dean of Osgoode, Maxime St-Hilaire, an Associate Professor at Sherbrooke, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, counsel with Woodward and Company and a Professor at UBC, Wendy Berman from Cassels Brock, and Ken Jull with Gardiner Roberts. This one is all legal but a must see for law geeks.

Interesting reveal: If a prosecutor is considering a remediation agreement but the charges are under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, the prosecutor is expressly prohibited from taking into account national economic impacts in deciding what's in the public interest.

Season 1, Episode 4 - "[Witness 1] is in that kinda mood"

An explosive end to Season 1 (or what will be deemed for these purposes to be the end of Season 1).

This one is all JWR. Over three hours and forty minutes of opening statement and answering questions. Chances are you've already seen clips. This is a must see for the whole family.

Other Seasons in this series

The Committee has just announced that they will be proceeding with Season 2. However, they've only announced two new episodes so far. The first will feature Gerry Butts, the Prime Minister's former Principal Secretary. The second features the return of Mr. Wernick and Ms. Drouin. Currently scheduled for Wednesday, March 6.

You'll definitely want to be caught up by then!

Sandy Carpenter practices regulatory and Indigenous law and writes and speaks on a wide range of topics. He can be reached at [email protected].