Ottawa/CMEDIA: A decision reportedly would be issued today by Canada’s former governor general David Johnston if Canada needs a public inquiry into foreign interference.
Johnston is also scheduled to hold a news conference around noon ET.
Johnston was appointed as independent special rapporteur on foreign interference in March by Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after a range of Chinese government operations reported by a series of stories interfered in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections influencing policymakers and institutions.
Unnamed national security officials were cited by the stories.
One such story reportedly from the Globe and Mail, citing a national security source, said Beijing sought the election of a Liberal minority government in 2021.
The source of the leaks is being investigated by the RCMP.
Growing concern on foreign interference has been warned for years by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) its annual reports, but the subject became a political controversy only after the media stories, which cited national security sources early this year.
“Despite various attempts by officials to talk about foreign interference, the only thing that prompted a real fundamental conversation about foreign interference were the illegal leaks,” Artur Wilczynski was reported saying,
Wesley Wark, a senior fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation, said the Liberal government has been pressured by the controversy and calls for a public inquiry.
“It’s created a huge political drama for the Liberal government…taken to respond forcefully to foreign interference. It clearly has done some things, but it hasn’t been enough,” said Wark and added,
“Johnston’s been thrust out in front of this problem. And he will take the heat.”
“Despite various attempts by officials to talk about foreign interference, the only thing that prompted a real fundamental conversation about foreign interference were the illegal leaks,” Artur Wilczynski was reported saying,
Wesley Wark, a senior fellow with the Centre for International Governance Innovation, said the Liberal government has been pressurized by the controversy and calls for a public inquiry.
“It’s created a huge political drama for the Liberal government…taken to respond forcefully to foreign interference. It clearly has done some things, but it hasn’t been enough,” said Wark and added,
“Johnston’s been thrust out in front of this problem. And he will take the heat.”
#Canada; #DavidJohnston; #publicInquiry; #ForeignInterference
