Johnston dismisses idea of public inquiry into foreign interference in elections

Former governor general David Johnston doesn’t think a public inquiry into alleged foreign interference in Canada’s last two elections is warranted.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked Johnston in March to be a special rapporteur and, as such, to lead an investigation into the extent and impact of foreign interference in Canada, amid allegations that China meddled in the last two federal elections.

In the initial report Johnston released Tuesday, he found serious shortcomings in how intelligence from security agencies was communicated to the federal government, but he didn’t identify any instances where that information wasn’t acted upon.

“I have found no examples of ministers, the prime minister or their offices knowingly or negligently failing to act on intelligence, advice or recommendations on the issues I have investigated related to the 2019 and 2021 elections,” Johnston said during a media conference.

Johnston’s report said that, based on access to classified documents and security agencies, specific accusations of interference that have dominated the political conversation were less concerning than media reports suggested.

“When I began this process, I thought I would come to the same conclusion, that I would recommend a public inquiry,” he said. “While it would have been an easy choice, it would not be the correct one.”

He says a public inquiry that has been called for by opposition parties could not be undertaken in public because of the sensitivity of the intelligence, and formal subpoena powers are not required for him to hold his own hearings with diaspora communities, academics and political stakeholders.

“What has allowed me to determine whether there has in fact been interference cannot be disclosed publicly,” Johnston said. “A public review of classified intelligence simply cannot be done.”

But he says public hearings should be held as part of his own mandate.

Johnston said the 2019 and 2021 federal elections were well-protected and added there isn’t any reason to not trust the results.

Johnston’s work is expected to continue through the end of October, when he is to present a final report to the government.

— With files from The Canadian Press