(Ottawa) David Johnston still has the Prime Minister’s confidence, despite a majority of MPs voting in favor of his resignation.
Justin Trudeau has said he is determined to keep the former governor general in place as Canada’s special rapporteur on foreign interference.
Passing through Toronto on Friday, the Prime Minister said he was impatiently awaiting the public hearings that Mr. Johnston must hold “across the country” over the next few months before publishing a final report by the end of October.
PHOTO CHRIS YOUNG, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau
The House of Commons earlier this week passed a motion from the New Democratic Party, with support from Conservative and Bloc MPs, urging Johnston to step down and calling on the government to launch a public inquiry.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre reiterated on Friday that Mr Johnston must leave, but would not name a replacement. Instead, he says, all parties need to work together to agree on a new watchdog with a proven track record of objectivity.
Mr Poilievre criticized the role of special rapporteur as a “bogus job”. He also questioned Mr. Johnston’s ability to objectively examine the Liberal government’s handling of alleged foreign interference due to its ties to the Trudeau family.
Mr Johnston has defended his integrity and downplayed his relationship with the Prime Minister, arguing this week that he intended to stay in office.