Johnston’s Proposal on Hearings Shows Lack of Understanding of Targeted Chinese Groups, MPs Hear

David Johnston, Independent Special Rapporteur on Foreign Interference, presents his first report in Ottawa on May 23, 2023. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Special Rapporteur David Johnston’s intent to hold public hearings with the diaspora on the issue of foreign interference shows a lack of understanding of the targeted communities, a China expert told a House of Commons committee on May 30.

“He’s not got a deep China experience, or a deep security experience to bring to it. He looked at it for two months, and in that two months he concluded that there should be public hearings of the diaspora,” said Margaret McCuaig-Johnston.