David Johnston still has the Prime Minister’s confidence, although a majority of MPs voted 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.
“He takes this issue very seriously and he digs into the facts,” Trudeau said.
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 he would not name a potential replacement.
“All parties in the House of Commons should get together and agree on someone who is non-partisan, who is not tied to any party leader and who has a background of objectivity, preferably as a than judge,” he said.
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. Poilievre refuses to review a classified part of Mr. Johnston’s initial report on foreign interference, saying it would prevent him from criticizing the federal government on the matter.
Mr Johnston has defended his integrity and downplayed his relationship with the Prime Minister, arguing this week that he intended to stay in office.
“When I accepted the mandate to act as independent special rapporteur, I did so knowing full well that the work ahead would not be straightforward or uncontroversial,” Johnston said in a statement later. early this week.
“I deeply respect the right of the House of Commons to express its opinion on my upcoming work, but my mandate comes from the government. I have a duty to continue this work until the end of my mandate. »
Justin Trudeau accused Mr. Poilievre and the leader of the Bloc Québécois, Yves-François Blanchet, of letting arguments and political attacks take precedence over facts.
“They have refused to get security briefings on the real facts surrounding intelligence and the issue of foreign interference because they want to continue to smear a man of impeccable integrity and commitment and service. deep feelings for Canada,” said Mr. Trudeau.