Canada's top civil servant to quit over crisis engulfing Justin Trudeau

Canada's top civil servant has announced he will quit over his handling of a political crisis engulfing prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Privy Council clerk Michael Wernick faced calls for his resignation over claims he acted in a partisan manner during the SNC-Lavalin affair.

Both the prime minister and his inner circle, including Mr Wernick, have been accused by former attorney general and justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould of leaning on her to ensure that the construction giant avoided a corruption trial.

They have both denied any wrongdoing, but the fallout has already cost Mr Trudeau two top ministers and a senior aide.

Mr Wernick, who is supposed to be non-partisan, told Mr Trudeau he would be retiring in the coming weeks because opposition leaders had lost confidence in him over the scandal.

“It is now apparent that there is no path for me to have a relationship of mutual trust and respect with the leaders of the opposition parties,” he said.

The crisis has piled pressure on Mr Trudeau, whose Liberal Party are sliding in the polls in the run up to October’s election.

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said Mr Wernick had resigned “in disgrace” and repeated his calls for a full public inquiry, which Mr Trudeau has ruled out.