Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre says he decided against meeting with David Johnston, the special rapporteur on foreign election interference, because of the latter’s previous involvement with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
Poilievre also called Johnston’s special role, to which he was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March, a “fake job.”
“He’s unable to do it impartially,” Poilievre told reporters in Ottawa on May 18. “He needs to simply hand it over and allow an independent public inquiry into Beijing’s interference.”
Johnston’s tasks as special rapporteur include giving the prime minister “independent advice” and making “expert recommendations” based on his investigations into reports of foreign election interference in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 federal general elections,
according to two order-in-council releases from April.
Johnston, who is also a former governor general of Canada, is
tasked with giving the federal government reports on his investigations “on a rolling basis” until Oct. 31, at which time Ottawa will share his findings with all the leaders of recognized parties in the House of Commons.
In order to carry out his mandate, Johnston has been given access to “national security intelligence resources, including classified or unclassified records, documents and personnel.”
Johnston’s first report is due
May 23, by which time he must advise the government on establishing a public inquiry into foreign election interference if he sees fit.
The former governor general is being
paid between $1,400 and $1,600 per day for as long he holds the position.
Letter
Poilievre and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet have heavily criticized Trudeau’s appointment of Johnston to the role over the past few months.
Blanchet told reporters on March 15 that he was
concerned about Johnston’s “close relation” to the Trudeau family, referring to the fact that Johnston used to be a member of the Trudeau Foundation and also that the prime minister called him a “family friend” in 2017.
Poilievre
wrote a letter to Johnston on April 12 questioning how the latter would “investigate Beijing’s donation to the Trudeau Foundation” since he used to be a member of the organization.
The Conservative leader told reporters on May 18 that Johnston never replied to the letter.
“He didn’t even respond to my letter on that obvious question,” Poilievre said. “So we need to get this special rapporteur distraction behind us and get on with real independent public inquiry.”
Trudeau has
defended his appointment of Johnston, saying previously that he is confident the former governor general will be “impartial” in his review of foreign interference reports.
Trudeau has also said his government will comply with any recommendations Johnston makes in his role as rapporteur.
Marnie Cathcart contributed to this report.
