Tag: Foreign Election Interference

House Passes Motion Calling on Johnston to Step Down as Special Rapporteur

Opposition parties have all voted in favour of an NDP motion calling on David Johnston to immediately step down from his current role as special rapporteur on foreign election interference. The Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois, and NDP voted in favour of the non-binding motion in the House on May 31—introduced by NDP MP Jenny Kwan the day…


Trudeau Accuses Opposition Parties of ‘Partisan Games’ as MPs Prepare to Vote on Johnston’s Removal

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing federal opposition parties of playing “partisan games” as the House of Commons prepares to vote on an NDP motion that, if passed, will call upon the Liberal government to remove David Johnston as the special rapporteur on foreign election interference. Trudeau’s comments come amid refusals and delays by all opposition…


NDP Won’t Break Agreement with Liberals Over Request to Remove Johnston, Says Singh

The NDP will not break its supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberal government should Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ignore the party’s calls for David Johnston to be removed as special rapporteur on foreign election interference, says NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. Singh spoke to reporters a day after his party introduced a motion in the House of…


O’Toole Says CSIS Told Him He Was Target of Beijing-Backed Voter Suppression, Misinformation Campaigns

Former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole told the House of Commons on May 30 that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) informed him that he and his party were targeted by Beijing in a voter suppression and misinformation campaign during the 2021 federal election. “The briefing from CSIS confirmed to me what I suspected for quite…


NDP Motion Asks Johnston to Step Down as Special Rapporteur

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says his party will be introducing a non-binding motion in the House of Commons calling on David Johnston to resign from his role as special rapporteur on foreign election interference due to what Singh called a “clear appearance of bias” on Johnston’s part. “Given the clear apprehension of bias at this point,…


Trudeau Will Waive Cabinet Confidence for Committee Investigations Into Foreign Interference: Report

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will waive cabinet confidence so that both a committee made up of parliamentarians from all parties and a federal agency investigating foreign election interference can review classified documents that special rapporteur David Johnston used to inform his recent report. This means that both the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians…


Citizen Group Raises Concern About Johnston’s Adviser Being a Liberal Party Donor

A citizen group is raising concern that special rapporteur David Johnston’s key advisor appears to have donated over $7,500 to the Liberal Party of Canada. Democracy Watch wrote in a press release on May 24 that while searching Elections Canada’s database, it found that Johnston’s advisor Sheila Block “seems to have donated a total of $7,593.38 (listed under “Sheila Block”…


Trudeau Hints He’s Open to Han Dong Rejoining Liberal Caucus Following Johnston’s Report

Following Special Rapporteur David Johnston’s report on foreign interference that claimed an allegation against former Liberal MP Han Dong was false, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hinted he is open to the now-Independent MP rejoining the party. “Han Dong chose to step away from caucus so that he could clear his name; so that he could…


Citizen Group to File Complaint With Ethics Commissioner Over Johnston’s Role as Special Rapporteur

A national democracy advocacy organization is filing a complaint with the federal ethics commissioner’s office, alleging that former governor general David Johnston is violating the Conflict of Interest Act in carrying out his appointed role as special rapporteur on foreign election interference because of his previous connections to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s family. The NGO Democracy…


Critics, Opposition Leaders Bemoan Johnston’s Decision Against Calling Public Inquiry on Election Interference

All federal opposition leaders and various national officials are criticizing Special Rapporteur David Johnston’s decision not to call for a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s last two general elections. Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh all stated their disappointment with Johnston’s decision shortly after he announced…