Justin Trudeau appoints former Governor General David Johnston as independent special rapporteur to advise the government on foreign interference in Canada.
The prime minister promised to create the new post last week, following revelations of attempted interference by the Chinese Communist Party regime in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections.
“In this new role, Mr. Johnston will have a broad mandate to examine the consequences of foreign interference in the last two federal general elections and to make expert recommendations on how to better protect our democracy and maintain the confidence of Canadians in it, ”announced Justin Trudeau’s cabinet in a press release on Wednesday afternoon.
The details of Mr Johnston’s new term will be finalized “in the coming days” and will be made public “later”.
Mr. Trudeau further called on a cross-partisan committee of parliamentarians on national security and intelligence, as well as the panel of experts monitoring privileged intelligence activities, to look into the allegations reported by the Globe and Mail and the network Global News.
“Mr. Johnston will be responsible for identifying any remaining gaps or areas that require further attention to protect the integrity of Canadian democracy,” the prime minister said in writing.
David Johnston was appointed Governor General by former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2010. He also served as the special adviser responsible for drawing up the terms of reference for a public inquiry into the Airbus affair for the Harper government. , recalled Mr. Trudeau.
The current prime minister had meanwhile appointed him, following the end of his term as governor general, commissioner for the organization of the electoral leaders’ debates.
Trudeau’s press release did not specify when Johnston would start in his new role or a timeline for his work as special rapporteur.
Further details will follow.