(OTTAWA) Liberals are bending under pressure: Chief of staff Katie Telford will go to committee to answer questions about foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections, it was announced Tuesday. At the same time, the office of Justin Trudeau unveiled the outlines of the mandate of the special rapporteur on foreign interference, David Johnston. He will decide by May 23 whether a public inquiry is necessary.
“While there are serious constraints on what can be said in public on sensitive intelligence matters, in an effort to make Parliament work, Ms.me Telford has agreed to appear before the Procedure and House Affairs Committee as part of its study,” Justin Trudeau’s office said in a statement.
The Liberals had been fiercely opposed to the appearance of the Prime Minister’s close collaborator, and had been for several days. The issue was the subject of a veritable standoff in committee, where the Liberals disrupted proceedings for more than 20 hours by using delaying tactics to block testimony. The freeze ended on Tuesday, with elected officials agreeing on an appearance for Katie Telford between April 3 and April 14.
Around the same time the coaster was announced, the Prime Minister’s dance partner, New Democrat Leader Jagmeet Singh, tapped his foot at a press conference: “If the Liberal government doesn’t end the obstruction in committee, if Justin Trudeau does not allow his chief of staff to testify, we will force him to do so by voting in favor of the opposition motion”.
The motion in question, which will be put to the vote on Tuesday afternoon, calls for Katie Telford to appear before another House of Commons committee, the Access to Information, Privacy and ethics.
No vote of confidence
Moreover, the Prime Minister put an end to the rumors that were buzzing on the Hill by ruling that the vote on the motion would not engage the confidence of the House. Yes, it is an “important vote”, but “no, it will not be a vote of confidence”, he decided on his arrival at his weekly cabinet meeting.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Justin Trudeau
The Conservatives spent a good part of Monday’s question period challenging the NDP, rallying behind their motion, in order to tip the balance of votes against the Liberals.
The Bloc Québécois, which also wants to hear the testimony of Justin Trudeau’s close collaborator, had meanwhile demanded on Monday the revocation of the mandate entrusted to former Governor General David Johnston on foreign interference.
Verdict on an investigation no later than May 23
On this too, the Prime Minister has decided, his office revealing on Tuesday the details of the mandate of the independent special rapporteur whom he appointed just over a week ago – an appointment which has drawn its share of criticism due to closeness between the two men.
The former Governor General will have until May 23 to recommend “the establishment of any additional mechanisms or transparent processes that he deems necessary […]for example a formal public inquiry, ”it was confirmed in a press release.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
David Johnson
He “will submit periodic reports to the Prime Minister, which will also be communicated to the leaders of the opposition and the population”, and “he will have full access to all relevant files and documents, whether classified or not”, we add.
He is expected to have completed his review by October 31, 2023.
Justin Trudeau’s decision to rely on David Johnston to determine whether to launch a public inquiry into foreign interference in the 2019 and 2021 elections has been denounced by all opposition parties in Ottawa .
The Conservatives and the Bloc believe that the dice are loaded.
“Justin Trudeau has named a ‘family friend’, old cottage neighbor and member of the Foundation [Pierre Elliott] Trudeau funded by Beijing, “independent” rapporteur on Beijing’s interference. Let’s be realistic. Trudeau must end his cover-up,” urged Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre.
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is not funded by Beijing.
But the charity has been embroiled in controversy recently, and had to repay a $200,000 donation from a Chinese billionaire after the Globe and Mail published that the contribution had been made against a promise of reimbursement from Beijing.
The story undermined the credibility of a report on the interference prepared by Morris Rosenberg, who was the Foundation’s chief executive at the time of the donation. As rapporteur, it is not impossible to imagine that David Johnston will have to look into this matter.