New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh addresses a news conference on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Singh is calling on the federal government to remove David Johnston as the special rapporteur on foreign interference amidst continued demands from opposition benches to hold a public inquiry into other nations meddling in Canadian elections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
OTTAWA – Government House leader Mark Holland says the federal Liberals still have faith in the man they appointed to investigate the issue of foreign interference in Canadian elections.
But Holland would not confirm whether the government could fire David Johnston if an NDP motion calling for his ouster passes in the House of Commons this week.
The House is debating a motion from NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh today that calls for the government to remove Johnston as special rapporteur on foreign interference and to call a public inquiry.
Singh says he doesn’t want to attack Johnston personally, but is concerned there is a clear apprehension of bias undermining the work he can do because of his ties to the prime minister.
Opposition party motions are not binding and the government already ignored an earlier NDP motion calling for a public inquiry that passed in March.
That motion came just a week after the Liberals appointed Johnston to look into allegations the Chinese government attempted to interfere in the last two federal elections.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2023.
