Ottawa is in the final stages of discussing the establishment of an inquiry into foreign interference in Canada, according to Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc. The minority Liberal government initiated talks with opposition parties in June after the resignation of David Johnston, the special rapporteur investigating allegations of foreign interference, due to accusations of bias. LeBlanc stated that the government is currently engaging with sitting judges to find an appropriate individual to lead the inquiry. Although progress has been made, LeBlanc acknowledged that more work needs to be done and mentioned that there are protocols to be followed when dealing with judges currently in service. Despite rumors that the government has faced difficulties in finding a suitable candidate after the previous debacle, LeBlanc did not confirm or deny these reports. He sought guidance from Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Richard Wagner on how to approach sitting judges regarding the inquiry’s leadership. LeBlanc expressed optimism that the government will find a leader with whom all parties can agree. Opposition parties have been demanding a public inquiry for months, and while the Liberals initially hesitated, they eventually appointed Johnston to lead an investigation. However, due to national security considerations and the amount of secrecy involved, Johnston concluded that a public inquiry would be less effective. The Conservatives protested, accusing Johnston of bias due to his connection to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s family and the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. Johnston denied these claims, but ultimately chose to step down from his position. Last week, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May stated that she participated in a classified briefing but was unable to read certain intelligence reports referenced in the documents. She has requested access to these documents from the Privy Council Office. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also holds top-secret security clearance but had not yet received a confidential briefing as of last week, as officials stipulate that it must occur in the Ottawa region. While Trudeau offered to involve all opposition party leaders in the process, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet declined, viewing it as a ploy to silence them on the allegations in public. On Monday, Poilievre accused the Liberals of deliberately stalling and suggested that Trudeau benefits from foreign states’ interference in elections. The Liberals have expressed their intention to consult on a foreign agent registry but have not provided specific details on its scope or timeline.
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