OTTAWA — Opposition leaders are dismissing former governor general David Johnston’s selection as a special rapporteur to investigate foreign interference in Canadian elections, with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre describing Johnston as a Trudeau “family friend.”
Trudeau appointed Johnston Wednesday to look into allegations of foreign meddling in the last two federal elections and recommend what the Liberal government should do about it.
In a statement Poilievre dismissed the appointment.
“Justin Trudeau has named a “family friend,” old neighbour from the cottage, and member of the Beijing-funded Trudeau Foundation, to be the “independent” rapporteur on Beijing’s interference,” he said.
Poilievre said Trudeau should abandon the entire special rapporteur process and call a public inquiry instead.
The prime minister has acknowledged Johnston knew his father Pierre Trudeau and that they were neighbours when Trudeau lived at Rideau Cottage and Johnston lived at Rideau Hall as the governor general.
Johnston was appointed governor general on the recommendation of former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper in 2010. Harper extended his initial five-year term in early 2015. Johnston continued in the role after Trudeau was elected that fall, serving until 2017.
Harper also picked Johnston to draft the terms of reference for what became the Airbus inquiry.
In an interview with the National Post’s John Ivison, Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman doubled down on the view that Johnston was the “wrong appointment” because of his close ties with the Trudeau family and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
Since 2018, Johnston has been a member of the foundation. The charity has previously said that Justin Trudeau ended his formal involvement with it in 2014.
In 2016, two Chinese billionaires gave a $200,000 donation to the foundation and pledged $800,000 to the University of Montreal. The Globe and Mail, citing security sources, reported that the donors were instructed to make the donation and were reimbursed by the government of China, which was seeking to influence the prime minister.
The foundation has since returned the money.
“There are plenty of eminent Canadians,” said Lantsman. “This has nothing to do with the character of the former governor general and everything to do with the confidence that the people should have in somebody who may or may not call for an inquiry.”
Quite the gentleman
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said there was no reason to doubt Johnston’s capability and impartiality for the job.
“Mr. Johnston is someone of strong reputation of integrity, and he is someone that’s independent and nonpartisan. And so I certainly trust him to do his work,” he said.
Singh added, however, that he still believes a public inquiry is necessary and he hopes Johnston calls for one.
“I still maintain that we need a public inquiry because Canadians need to have confidence in our elections.”
Trudeau has said the appointment was made after consultations with all parties in the House of Commons, though the NDP said Johnston’s name was not raised with them during the consultations.
In a press conference, Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said he has met Johnston a few times and the former governor general seems like “quite the gentleman.”
“However, if you want to make the population feel safe about the choices that you have made, you should pick someone who is not notably and admittedly a friend of the family,” he said.
Blanchet accused Trudeau of “beating about the bush” in naming Johnston to investigate the seriousness of a public inquiry into allegations of Beijing’s interference in past elections instead of actually calling an inquiry right away.
“If, in the end, Johnston recommends a public inquiry, we’ll have wasted three, seven or 10 months for nothing,” he said.
Johnston’s recommendations could include a public inquiry or another independent review process. The Liberals have pledged to make his recommendations public and abide by the guidance.
A mandate for Johnston’s new role is being finalized and will be made public, Trudeau’s office said.
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