(Ottawa) The Bloc Québécois is calling for a public and independent commission of inquiry into foreign interference, with a commissioner elected by the House of Representatives.
Posted at 8:12
In a letter to the prime minister on Sunday, a copy of which was obtained by The Canadian Press, bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet also hailed the possibility that consultations could take place with opposition parties.
Mr Blanchet adds that “it is essential that the mandate of such a commission is broad and open so as not to neglect issues”. In particular, he mentions “the so-called “Chinese police stations” […] alleged irregularities in the management of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation”.
On Sunday, the Conservative Party also said it was ready to work with the other opposition parties in Ottawa to set the mandate for a possible public inquiry into foreign interference.
At a press conference in Ottawa, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre announced that he would be contacting his counterparts from the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Bloc Québécois this week to begin work on the dossier.
“I will work with my colleagues in the opposition to ensure that the person chosen to carry things forward is independent and impartial,” Mr Poilievre said.
Liberal helping hand
The Conservative leader made the comments the day after an outing by Intergovernmental Affairs Secretary Dominic LeBlanc, who was reaching out to opposition parties to chart next steps regarding China’s and other countries’ meddling in Canada.
“I look forward to hearing your suggestions, such as who you think could lead this investigation, what your mandate will be and how you will deal with the issue of necessarily classified information that must not be disclosed in a public inquiry,” Minister said LeBlanc on Saturday.
For his part, Mr Poilievre is willing to take part in the discussions. He has even already started working on a list of potential candidates to lead a public inquiry should the government decide to launch one.
His criteria: someone who has no connection to the Trudeau family or the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and has a good reputation for impartiality and neutrality.
During his press conference, Mr Poilievre urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to start the public inquiry now.
“He must call him immediately,” pounded the Conservative leader. He needs to find someone to run it and quickly establish his mandate so that the hearings can take place as quickly as possible and the whole truth is known before the next election. »
Expert advice
But first and foremost, Secretary LeBlanc will consult with experts and the opposition parties to decide the direction of work on the dossier that has caused a lot of buzz in Ottawa in recent weeks.
In his preliminary report, the Special Rapporteur on interference, David Johnston, had ruled out the idea of a public inquiry into the issue of foreign interference due to the confidential nature of the issues involved, much to the chagrin of opposition leaders.
However, Mr Johnston announced on Friday that he would step down by the end of the month, citing the “very partisan” climate surrounding his appointment and his work, which he says has prevented him from giving back to democratic institutions.
With the special rapporteur now stepping down, the government says “all options are possible” from now on, whether that be opening a public inquiry or appointing someone to take the torch right where Mr Johnston will leave it when he leaves .
“If ultimately a public inquiry is possible in the right way and led by the ideal person, then we’re totally open to suggestions,” Mr. LeBlanc said Saturday.
With Mickey Djuric, The Canadian Press