If there was any chance the appointment of a “rapporteur” to investigate Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interference in two Canadian elections would instill confidence in Canada’s democratic system, the chance evaporated when Prime Minister Trudeau appointed David Johnston to the role.
Trudeau’s response to the pressure for an inquiry was the creation of the position of “rapporteur” and he assured Canadians that the person in this role would get to the bottom of the issue. The only way citizens might accept the conclusions of this rapporteur is if the person appointed to the role appeared impeccably impartial. The person appointed could not demonstrate an indication of bias or be in a potential conflict of interest in the role. Trudeau failed dismally with his choice.
David Johnston has had a long and distinguished career as an academic and later as Canada’s governor general. But there are several issues that make him an inappropriate choice for the role of rapporteur. To question his selection to the role is not to undermine his accomplishments.
In a CTV interview in 2016, Mr. Johnston talked about his close relationship with the Trudeaus and how his kids and the Trudeau brothers bonded while their families had joint ski trips to Mont Tremblant long ago. He spoke of how Justin Trudeau’s children now play with his grandchildren and sounded more like a doting uncle or close relative to the prime minister than a colleague. That is all fine and nobody begrudges people from forming close relationships, even among statesmen. That close relationship, however, makes it impossible for people to accept Johnston’s lack of bias when it comes to the Trudeaus.
Further, David Johnston serves as a member of the Trudeau Foundation. The Trudeau Foundation is immersed in the CCP influence scandal and recently returned $200,000 it had received in donations from an individual tied to Beijing once CSIS leaks said the money originated from the CCP. Morris Rosenberg was the head of the Trudeau Foundation when questionable donations were received. Rosenberg was then appointed to report on the 2019 and 2021 Canadian elections where he found no evidence of wrongdoing. Rosenberg’s conclusions may have been accurate, but only a full, public inquiry free of any influence from people with potential conflicts of interest could confirm that.
It is astounding and bizarre after the Rosenberg mess that Trudeau would think people would accept another senior member of the Trudeau Foundation as an investigator into election malfeasance. Yet here we are.
David Johnston’s history with a past public inquiry also brings his judgment into question.
It is surprising that David Johnston would even accept the appointment to the role. For one, he is almost 82 years old and the job is a pretty weighty task to assume while in retirement. Secondly, as such an accomplished man, he should know as well as anybody that his impartiality, in this case, would be immediately questioned. Perhaps he just can’t bring himself to say no to the nice young man he watched growing up in Ottawa.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s attempt to calm the CCP election interference scandal through the appointment of a rapporteur has already failed before the investigation begins. People will doubt the credibility of Johnston’s report no matter what it concludes.
Mistrust in the integrity of Canada’s democratic system will continue to fester until nothing less than a full, public inquiry is held to clear the air.
