Critics, Opposition Leaders Bemoan Johnston’s Decision Against Calling Public Inquiry on Election Interference

All federal opposition leaders and various national officials are criticizing Special Rapporteur David Johnston’s decision not to call for a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s last two general elections.

Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh all stated their disappointment with Johnston’s decision shortly after he announced it around midday on May 23.

Poilievre told reporters in Quebec City that calling a public inquiry would’ve been “common sense” and accused the prime minister of only appointing Johnston as special rapporteur in order to “help Trudeau cover up the influence by Beijing in our democracy.”

“We know that Beijing interfered in two elections to help Trudeau win,” Poilievre said. “We know that Beijing gave $140,000 to the Trudeau Foundation with the express purpose of buying the love and the loyalty of Justin Trudeau.”

Poilievre was referring to a Beijing-linked donation sent to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation in 2016. Johnston was previously a member of the foundation, which is named after the prime minister’s father.

Johnston, who was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March to investigate reports of foreign interference in Canada’s 2019 and 2021 general elections, filed his first report on the matter on May 23.

In the report, Johnston said a public inquiry can’t be held since the classified information informing the matter cannot be publicly revealed.

In a Twitter post shortly after the announcement, Bloc Leader Blanchet wrote in French that Johnston’s decision shows that his “mandate was and remains to protect secrecy, the Liberal Party and [Justin Trudeau].”

NDP Leader Singh also reacted to the announcement on Twitter, saying he was “deeply disappointed” in Johnston’s decision.

“We’ll be taking these concerns directly to the PM and use all our tools in Parliament to get answers for Canadians,” Singh wrote on Twitter, while once again calling for a public inquiry.

‘Stunning’

Various officials also expressed disappointment with Johnston’s decision, including Mehmet Tohti, executive director of the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project.

“Johnston’s rejection of public inquiry is stunning and absolutely, shockingly disappointing,” Tohti wrote on Twitter. “It doesn’t serve the core interest of our national security and rather it only provided baseline for an approval of China’s narrative.”

Later the same day, Trudeau defended both his appointment of Johnston as special rapporteur and the former governor general’s decision not to call on the Liberal government for a public inquiry on election interference.

Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa that Johnston’s decision was informed by “thousands of pages of classified and unclassified documents” on matters of foreign interference.

“While preparing his report, Mr. Johnston was given complete access to all and any relevant records and documents from across government,” Trudeau said.

The prime minister added that letters have been sent to all opposition leaders offering them security clearances so that can review the relevant intelligence documents privately.

“I think everyone can agree with the former governor general’s assessment that all leaders must work from a common understanding of true facts,” Trudeau said.

Noé Chartier contributed to this report.