“Canada’s China Class”

Canadians would have greater trust in the government’s handling of Chinese state interference if Ottawa appointed a judge – with full subpoena powers – rather than relying on the advice of former governor-general David Johnston, according to former lead counsel of two major public inquiries.

Paul Cavalluzzo, who was lead commission counsel for the Maher Arar inquiry, and Mark Freiman, who was lead counsel for the Air India inquiry, say a full-scale public inquiry into China’s meddling in Canadian politics would help restore public faith that Ottawa is taking the matter seriously.

In response to the G7 leaders’ communique, issued after last weekend’s meeting in Hiroshima, China sent out a riposte that said “gone are the days when a handful of Western countries can just willfully meddle in other countries’ internal affairs.”

China, of course, would never engage in the tactics of imperialist running dogs.

“I asked the Prime Minister and Ministers if they were aware of any orchestrated effort to elect a LPC minority. They were not.” ` Moron

Give David Johnston credit for one thing. It takes no small amount of courage, when your impartiality has been called into question and when the whole world is expecting you to call for a public inquiry into Chinese interference in Canadian elections – if only to demonstrate your impartiality – to then reject a public inquiry.

OTTAWA – The leaders of the two largest federal opposition parties are rejecting Justin Trudeau’s invitation to receive security clearances in order to review the confidential annex of special rapporteur David Johnston’s report, prompting the prime minister to accuse them of hiding behind “a veil of ignorance.”

On Tuesday, while pointing to the real threat that foreign election interference poses and the need to address some serious intelligence gaps, Johnston recommended against a public inquiry into the federal government’s handling of the issue. He instead plans to conduct more forward-looking public hearings.

Well, there we have it. Former Governor General David Johnston has delivered his much-awaited report on China’s interference in our federal elections. It is fairly thorough, looking at the intelligence process in Canada, the importance of democracy, how governments make decisions, etc., etc., etc. And in the end, Johnston recommended against creating a public inquiry into this matter.

David Johnston—from the Trudeau Foundation—wanted to make sure he wasn’t in a conflict of interest in judging the Beijing’s interference in the Trudeau Foundation.

So he got an opinion from someone who is part of the Trudeau Foundation. pic.twitter.com/55uCToFifz

— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) May 23, 2023

“Democracy is built on trust,” reads the first line of special rapporteur David Johnston’s report on foreign interference. He’s right about that, which is why it’s a travesty that, 55 pages and one rambling news conference later, Johnston failed to take the one action that could begin to restore public trust in Canada’s system.

This deceiful man is in China’s pocket.

DWatch reveals David Johnston’s key adviser on foreign interference and Justin Trudeau’s actions seems to be long-time donor only to the Liberal Party. No wonder his first report found Trudeau Cabinet and Liberal MPs did nothing wrong https://t.co/Q27oskuf3T #cdnpoli #onpoli

— Democracy Watch (@DemocracyWatchr) May 24, 2023

David Johnston’s first report on foreign interference states at the outset that democracy is built on trust.

It is truly unfortunate that his rejection of a full public inquiry is likely to further erode faith that is already wavering.

OTTAWA — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is refusing to review classified information on foreign state interference, stating he won’t be “silenced” as he continues to claim — contrary to the conclusion of a new report he dismissed as untrustworthy — that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau might be “complicit” in Chinese efforts to meddle in Canadian democracy.

Speaking in Quebec City on Tuesday, Poilievre did not waver from his party’s criticism of former governor general David Johnston, who published an interim report earlier in the day as the government’s “special rapporteur” on foreign political interference.