The appointment of a special rapporteur has nothing to do with inquiring into foreign interference in Canadian elections. Over the past four years, parliamentary committees have studied foreign interference extensively, issuing five reports and making over 30 recommendations.
There is no question foreign governments have attempted to influence elections in Canada. There are, however, serious questions about what, if anything, Trudeau did to address all the reports and recommendations.
From the outset, the appointment of a special rapporteur was an overt attempt to avoid any meaningful inquiry into what the government has done (or failed to do) to counter foreign interference. The special rapporteur is a partisan position intended to thwart transparency.
Johnston’s first report was a study in avoiding potentially embarrassing questions. When did the prime minister know foreign entities were interfering with nominations and elections and what he did about it are, apparently, questions immaterial to the divine mission of a special rapporteur.
This week, the nation viewed another chapter in the long, slow meltdown of David Johnston. This is a saga about character. Johnston’s judgment in accepting the role of special rapporteur is questionable. His stubborn insistence in carrying on with public consultations without the support of...
apple.news
David Johnston — tasked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau back in March with “looking into” allegations that China tried to meddle in the past two federal elections — says he has decided to step down from that role.
A government source said Johnston made his own decision to resign and wasn't asked to step down by the Prime Minister's Office….
so…no bus to be thrown under?
David Johnston — tasked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau back in March with looking into allegations that China tried to meddle in the past two federal elections — has decided to step down from that role.
apple.news
Trudeau appointed Johnston to the role in March, as part of a suite of measures responding to concerns the Liberal government failed to share information, or respond adequately to the threat of foreign interference in the last two federal elections….
so Trudeau selected David Johnston to investigate Justin Trudeau & the Liberal Gov’t…& he’d report back to the PMO (Justin Trudeau) about Justin Trudeau….& Johnston made it clear that he was not answerable to Parliament or the Canadian People they represent…but to the Liberal Government = Justin Trudeau.
In his interim report released May 23, while pointing to the real threat that foreign election interference poses and the need to address some serious intelligence gaps, Johnston recommended against a public inquiry, but announced plans of his own to conduct public hearings….
& Johnston selected Johnston to hold & run & chair these public hearings.
The former governor general's decision is being welcomed by opposition leaders, who are using his abdication as an opportunity to revive calls for Trudeau to launch a public inquiry.
"David Johnston has done the right thing. Now the prime minister must call a public inquiry, so that we can restore trust in our democracy," tweeted NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said in a tweet that he "salutes" Johnston's "dignified decision."
Blanchet said Trudeau now has no choice but to come to Parliament to select a judge who could chair an independent commission into Chinese interference in Canada.
Foreign interference special rapporteur David Johnston has resigned, CTV News has confirmed. In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Johnston cited the intense politicization of his appointment and work, as the reason for his coming departure.
www.ctvnews.ca
In a major shift, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will now weigh whether to call a public inquiry into foreign elections interference after former governor general David Johnston stunned the government Friday, resigning as outside adviser after weeks of controversy over his appointment and the conclusions of his interim report.
All three main opposition parties have already voted in favour of a public inquiry, and all reiterated that demand Friday in reaction to Johnston’s departure.
“I always thought that Mr. Johnston is an honourable man and today’s decision shows that,” Singh said. In addition to a public inquiry, he demanded Trudeau work with opposition parties on an “action plan” to deal with interference.
Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois, said Trudeau now has no choice but to immediately turn to Parliament to nominate a judge to preside over an inquiry into “Chinese interference in Canada.”
Johnston was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March to probe the extent of foreign interference in Canada’s democracy.
www.thestar.com
So…what will Trudeau do NOW to avoid a Public Inquiry? Coin toss, best two out of three, but with a BROAD mandate, etc…?
On Tuesday, Johnston spent three hours before a parliamentary committee where opposition MPs vigorously sought to undercut the whole of his findings to reinforce their
demands that a public inquiry is the only way forward.
They pointed out discrepancies between Johnston’s recent report and other public information, pressed him on absences from his witness list and grilled him on how much work he actually did.
The Liberal-led circus surrounding allegations of foreign interference took a new turn on Friday when David Johnston, brought on by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March to look into claims of interference by China in the past two federal elections, announced he is quitting his role as special rapporteur.
Johnston released a letter late Friday afternoon quitting the post, saying his goal of strengthening democratic institutions was not being met.
nationalpost.com
Johnston has faced weeks of scrutiny over what the opposition parties called a conflict of interest due to his ties to Trudeau's family and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
globalnews.ca
David Johnston is quitting his role as special rapporteur.
torontosun.com
He will step down no later than the end of June.
