Michael Taube: Canada Needs a Public Inquiry on Foreign Interference, Not a Special Rapporteur With a ‘Fake Job’
Commentary
David Johnston was appointed special rapporteur by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March to look into allegations of Chinese interference in Canada’s election process. The former governor general has apparently met with Trudeau, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet to discuss his role and mandate.
No such meeting will be taking place with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, however.
An unnamed spokesperson originally told CBC News on May 18 that Poilievre was offered a 48-hour window to set up a meeting, which didn’t work with his schedule.
The story went down a different path a few hours later. “He is Justin Trudeau’s ski buddy, his cottage neighbour, his family friend, and a member of the Trudeau Foundation, which got $140,000 from Beijing,” Poilievre told reporters. “He has a fake job and he’s unable to do it impartially. He needs to simply hand it over and allow an independent public inquiry into Beijing’s interference.”…