Peter A. Downard
Direct +1 416 865 4369
pdownard@fasken.com
www.fasken.com/peter-downard

April 7, 2019
By Email
Mr. Julian Porter
Julian Porter, Q.C. Professional Corporation
1 First Canadian Place
Suite 1600, 100 King Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 1G5
Dear Mr. Porter:
Re: Trudeau v. Scheer

I have been retained by the Honourable Andrew Scheer regarding your libel notice of March 31.
The Prime Minister’s complaint is entirely without merit. It is profoundly disappointing that the
Prime Minister is seeking to silence debate on matters of such great public importance.
Mr. Scheer will not be intimidated. As the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition he is
performing his constitutional duty to hold the Prime Minister and his government to account.
If the Prime Minister actually intends to commence a lawsuit, he should proceed with it
immediately. Mr. Scheer will defend vigorously and will press for the expedited determination
of the action. Mr. Scheer looks forward to obtaining the Prime Minister’s evidence under oath
and having this matter heard in open court. The Prime Minister must immediately take steps to
preserve all relevant documents, including electronic communications, notes of meetings and
other materials. He should immediately notify all members of his government involved in this
matter, past and present, that they can expect to be called to testify.
If the Prime Minister does not commence the lawsuit he has threatened, Mr. Scheer will
conclude that the Prime Minister has properly acknowledged that Mr. Scheer’s statements were
appropriate and grounded in evidence before the Canadian people.
Yours truly,
FASKEN MARTINEAU DuMOULIN LLP

Peter A. Downard