(Ottawa) The independent special rapporteur on foreign interference, David Johnston, said it quietly but firmly: If he has heard criticism of his report’s conclusions, we will not stop him just to do his job.
Posted at 10:51 am. Updated at 11:33am
The former governor-general of Canada knew he would be beaten during his three-hour appearance before Tuesday’s Standing Committee on Procedural and House Affairs. In doing so, he set the table for the session, taking note of the controversy surrounding his first report and his appointment.
“I heard clearly the disagreements over my recommendation not to open a public inquiry and the allegations about my integrity and independence. These claims are simply wrong. And the decision to repeat them doesn’t make them true,” he said.
“I will continue to welcome disagreement on my recommendations, but I will not let that stop me from completing my work,” David Johnston appealed to MEPs on the committee investigating foreign interference.
The Conservatives first questioned the witness and then went on the attack, first asking about the ties between the Johnston family and the Trudeau family and listing a series of claims the former governor-general had made on some television sets on the subject.
The exchange quickly turned stormy, prompting the committee chair, the Liberal Bardish Chagger, to whip out her stopwatch to ensure there was a reasonable amount of time between the Conservative MPs’ questions and the witness Johnston’s replies.
No intention to resign
David Johnston’s appearance comes just under a week after the acceptance of an NDP motion calling for his resignation. “I have great respect for the House of Commons and their right to express an opinion on my work,” he said.
The motion, passed by a vote of 174 to 150, also called on the Trudeau government to launch a public and independent investigation into foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
In both cases, David Johnston reiterated on Tuesday that he had no intention of complying.
“I find that disappointing,” said Chief Jagmeet Singh, who exceptionally sat on the committee.
hearings next month
Despite not recommending the probe demanded by all opposition parties, the former governor-general – whose impartiality is questioned due to his ties to Justin Trudeau, his past affiliation with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and its sinophilia – ruled in favor of the public hearings.
The hearings, which he will chair, are set to begin next month, he said on Tuesday.
And in his opinion, “there should not be, and there is no need to conduct, a separate public inquiry” because “a public inquiry into the leaked documents could not be conducted publicly given the sensitivity of the intelligence information.”
Bloc Québécois MP Alain Therrien expressed his disagreement with this conclusion. Why was it possible to have a public inquiry into the Maher Arar affair that involved examining classified CSIS documents rather than foreign interference?
PHOTO PATRICK DOYLE, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVE
Alain Therrien
“I appeal to your intelligence and know that you are a very brilliant man. […] What is the difference between what is classified as foreign interference and the case of keeping information secret for Maher Arar? Why is it worse than Maher Arar? ‘ the elected representative of the Bloc Québécois asked the witness.
“This is one of the issues that we want to examine in depth in the hearings. […] when we can determine what should be kept secret and what can be made public,” replied David Johnston.
His interlocutor saw this as a confirmation of his position. “They tell me we don’t know why we can’t have a public and independent inquiry. That’s what I heard. […] They’re not even ready today to tell me we don’t need it,” concluded Alain Therrien.
Justin Trudeau criticizes the opposition
Prime Minister Trudeau, against all odds, continues to back David Johnston.
“You have to be very, very specific about what is happening. “The opposition parties, in particular the Conservative Party, only want to launch unfounded personal attacks on this issue of foreign interference,” he criticized again on Tuesday morning before the Council of Ministers meeting.
The elected Liberals, who sit on the committee, echoed this criticism. Jennifer O’Connell specifically accused the Conservatives of promoting “conspiracy theories” about “kids playing together,” citing the Johnston children’s and Trudeau’s ski trips.