Tag: David Johnston

Liberal Party in Talks to Reintegrate MP Han Dong: Report

A Liberal cabinet minister says he will meet with now-independent MP Han Dong in the coming weeks in order to evaluate his potential return to the party caucus. “I’m still going through the process. It’s something the prime minister asked me to do (and) I want to do it properly,” Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc…


Senior Gov’t Officials Received CSIS Doc on Beijing Threats to MPs, Departments Confirm

Three federal departments have confirmed that their senior leadership was provided with an intelligence assessment from Canada’s spy agency that highlighted the Chinese regime’s attempt to target MPs. The information is highlighted in an order paper filed with the government by Conservative MP Michael Chong on May 5—four days after the Globe and Mail published…


David Johnston Files Final Report on Foreign Meddling, Done as Special Rapporteur

David Johnston filed his final—and confidential—report on foreign interference to the prime minister on Monday, ending his contentious term as special rapporteur. Johnston had announced his plans to resign earlier this month, saying the atmosphere around his work had become too partisan. He pledged to submit a final report to the government before the end…


CSIS Director Contradicts Minister Blair on Passage of Intel Related to Beijing Threats

The director of Canada’s spy agency told MPs that the proper protocol had been followed to pass information to the minister of public safety on Beijing threats to parliamentarians, contradicting the minister’s previous testimony. “My understanding of how the information flows from an agency to the minister is that this is sent to the department—in…


IN-DEPTH: What Happens Now That Johnston Has Stepped Down as Special Rapporteur?

With David Johnston having stepped down from his role as special rapporteur on foreign election interference, talk that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may initiate a public inquiry is in the air. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters on Parliament Hill on June 10 that Trudeau has instructed him to hold consultations with both “legal…


Majority of Canadians Say Ottawa Mishandled Foreign Interference: Poll

A new Nanos Research poll says the majority of Canadians believe the Liberal government bungled the response to allegations of Chinese interference in the country’s elections. A majority also said Canada should decrease its trade with China. According to the June report commissioned by Bloomberg News, 33 percent of Canadians polled rated the Liberal government’s response to…


John Robson: With Johnston Gone, We Need a Real Public Inquiry With Teeth

Commentary So it looks like there’s going to be a public inquiry into Chinese communist meddling in our elections after all. At least Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc is hinting as much. Who saw that one coming? Not David Johnston, evidently. He finally stepped down from his untenable position, which I greet with the same…


Only the Acuity of the Common Man Can Save Liberal Democracy From Itself

Commentary It’s becoming increasingly difficult to overlook the lack of respect our liberal-progressive political class has for the intelligence of the average citizen. Since the pandemic, political authorities have become convinced they can say or do just about anything they please. Take, for example, the recent actions of Canada’s federal government to bypass a serious…


Poilievre Says He Will Work With NDP, Bloc to Set Terms for Potential Foreign Interference Inquiry

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he will work with the opposition parties to set the terms of reference for a possible inquiry on foreign interference, including whoever may lead it. “I will work with our opposition colleagues to make sure that the person who fills that role is independent and unbiased in doing a thorough…


David Johnston Resigns as Special Rapporteur Into Foreign Interference

Former governor general David Johnston says he will resign from his role as special rapporteur into foreign interference. In a resignation letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on June 9, Johnston said that his appointment to the role of probing Beijing’s interference in Canada hasn’t helped to build trust in democratic institutions because of partisanship. Johnston’s…