(OTTAWA) Opposition MPs want to question former Governor General David Johnston, the “special rapporteur” appointed by the Prime Minister to investigate allegations of foreign interference.
Members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs are due to discuss it at their meeting on Thursday afternoon.
Conservative, New Democrat and Bloc MPs on that committee said in a letter earlier this week that they wanted Mr. Johnston to come and explain why he decided not to recommend a public inquiry into the foreign interference.
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.
Mr. Johnston, who wants to hold his own hearings instead, said in the preliminary report that making secret information public as part of a commission of inquiry would risk shaking 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 respects Johnston’s recommendation.