“We see today that his ski buddy, cottage neighbour, family friend, and member of the Beijing-financed Trudeau Foundation came out and did exactly what I predicted: helped Trudeau cover up the influence by Beijing in our democracy,” Poilievre said during a press conference on May 23.
According to Globe and Mail and Global News reports that cited unnamed national security sources, the Chinese Communist Party sought to influence Canada’s 2019 and 2021 elections. It also attempted to intimidate members of Parliament, including Conservative MP Michael Chong, as well as fund political candidates and operate foreign police stations as a way to silence dissidents.
After spending two months reviewing classified documents and interviewing policymakers, Johnston concluded that holding public inquiry—which all opposition parties have called for—was not appropriate.
Johnston said that sensitivities around intelligence related to foreign interference would make it difficult to hold an open inquiry, and said there was no ethical issue with the way the federal government handled the issue.
‘Whitewash Attempt’
Poilievre criticized Johnston’s appointment as special rapporteur, as the former governor-general was previously a member of the Trudeau Foundation. Poilievre also cited reports that suggested the Chinese regime gave $140,000 to the foundation with the “express purpose of buying the love and the loyalty of Justin Trudeau.”“We know that Trudeau has been briefed on these matters for years, and has done absolutely nothing about it, except try to keep it quiet, and name-call anyone who spoke out about it,” Poilievre said, adding that Johnston’s announcement was a “whitewash attempt” by the prime minister.
“Now, Johnson is part of the Trudeau foundation, so, of course, he wouldn’t want to investigate himself. But, frankly, that’s why he should have recused himself,” he said.
Poilievre reiterated his calls for a full public inquiry into foreign interference and said the federal Conservatives would continue pushing for a foreign influence registry to expose “anyone who does paid work on behalf of a foreign dictatorship to manipulate our politics.”
Trudeau has previously defended Johnston as the right candidate for the job and pushed back on Poilievre’s criticism.
Johnston also addressed the claims there could be a conflict of interest with his appointment during a press conference presenting his first report. Johnston said his friendship with Trudeau was based “only on a few skiing expeditions with my children” and Trudeau at a time when Pierre Elliott Trudeau was still alive.
Johnston said that since Trudeau became a Liberal MP, he has had no meetings, letters, or telephone calls with him. He also downplayed his association with the Trudeau Foundation, to which he resigned his membership after being appointed rapporteur. He pointed to his becoming a member in 2018 after the charity received the donation from Beijing-tied businessmen.
