As a majority of elected officials in Ottawa rallied to demand the resignation of Special Rapporteur David Johnston on Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lashed out at the leaders of the Conservative Party and Bloc Québécois, accused of rendering Parliament “ toxic “.
“What we are seeing is that, in particular, the approach chosen [le chef de l’opposition Pierre] Poilievre — and to some degree [le chef du Bloc Yves-François] Blanchet — makes the situation extremely toxic, and [ce]whoever we choose, ”dropped the Prime Minister Wednesday morning in front of reporters.
Justin Trudeau has repeated that his two main political opponents in the House of Commons do not take “the issue of foreign influence seriously”. He regrets that they do not take advantage of their right to read the confidential appendix to the Johnston report, tabled last week, at the cost of adhering to the conditions associated with the “very high” security clearance.
On May 23, the special rapporteur and former Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, concluded in a 65-page report that a public inquiry into foreign interference is not necessary. He slashed media reports in passing, implying that they are either false or exaggerated, creating “misunderstandings”.
The New Democratic Party (NDP), whose leader, Jagmeet Singh, has agreed to read the confidential appendix to the Johnston report, decided this week to also demand the departure of the special rapporteur. A motion to this effect, which also calls for a public inquiry entrusted to a commissioner chosen by all the parties, will be put to the vote on Wednesday afternoon. The NDP also pledged last year to keep the Liberals in power until 2025.
Mr. Singh, however, dismisses the idea of severing his support for the government and plunging the country into an electoral campaign, since the current crisis of confidence is precisely affecting the electoral process. The elected Liberals, for their part, strove on Tuesday to defend the reputation of David Johnston.
“What should be tolerated in a stupid or complicit way […] so as not to be “toxic” while Justin Trudeau jeopardizes democracy and the open information it commands? “, reacted on Twitter the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet.
The day before, Mr. Blanchet had indicated to a response to the Duty that he “did not know what he would do” if another special rapporteur more legitimate in his eyes came to the same conclusion. “But it would help not to disqualify the person from the start. Mr. Johnston was disqualified when he left,” he judges, adding that he would have believed the former governor general if he had lined up behind his request for a public inquiry.
More details will follow.