(OTTAWA) A parliamentary committee chair says David Johnston had already agreed to testify in Ottawa even before opposition MPs demanded his appearance in a letter earlier this week.
The prime minister’s special rapporteur released his preliminary report Tuesday on the Liberal government’s response to alleged foreign interference attempts in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
At a meeting of the Standing Committee on Procedure and Commons Affairs on Thursday, Liberal MP Bardish Chagger said the committee she chairs had invited Johnston to appear two months ago and that the “ special rapporteur” was due to testify in less than two weeks, on June 6.
Opposition MPs on the committee had requested in a letter this week that Mr. Johnston come to testify, after the release of his preliminary report on Tuesday.
Conservative, New Democrat and Bloc MPs on this committee wanted the Prime Minister’s appointed “special rapporteur” to explain why he had decided not to recommend a public inquiry into foreign interference.
Liberal MPs on Thursday accused the Tories of being irresponsible by suggesting Johnston was reluctant to testify before the committee.
“The opposition will stop at nothing to tarnish the reputation of an individual […] who, to me, in no way deserves it, argued Liberal MP Ryan Turnbull. They don’t like the conclusions of the report, so they try to create the false impression that (Mr. Johnston) is not willing to come before our committee, which is contrary to the truth. »
The Tories have raised concerns that Mr Johnston is too close to the Liberals. They recall that the Prime Minister previously described him as a “friend of the family” and that he became a member of the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau Foundation after leaving his post as Governor General. Mr. Johnston denied the conflict of interest allegations.
The leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday: “All the work of David Johnston looks like a cover for something creepy”.
Appearance on June 6
But MP Chagger, chair of the Commons committee, argued Thursday that Mr Johnston had agreed to come and testify on June 6, for two hours, including on the content of his preliminary report.
Tory MP Michael Barrett claimed opposition MPs were unaware that Mr Johnston was due to appear on that date until the Speaker announced it at Thursday’s meeting.
During a meeting that lasted more than three hours, the Conservatives pushed for Mr Johnston to appear earlier, fearing that Justin Trudeau would prorogue Parliament to avoid further scrutiny of foreign interference.
But MPs instead decided to ask him to appear for three hours, instead of two, and to demand that he appear on any date as long as it is before June 6.
NDP MP Rachel Blaney told the committee she was unhappy with Johnston’s report as her party continued to push for a public inquiry.
“For me, the focus has always been on the seriousness of the situation and the importance for Canadians to trust their institutions,” said Ms.me Blaney. It’s disappointing that we’re here, and it really describes the reality that Canadians need to see a process that’s transparent, clear and that they can trust. Nothing to do with that. »
Mr Johnston instead ruled that a formal public inquiry would not work to look into matters of alleged foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections, as much of the classified information he reviewed would have to remain secret. .
He argued in his report that making this information public would risk undermining the confidence of Canada’s allies and endangering intelligence sources.
Opposition parties persist in calling for a public inquiry following the report, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he will heed Johnston’s recommendation.