The Liberal Party has described their meeting with the opposition party as “productive” in discussing the possibility of a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada. Sebastian Skamski, spokesperson for the Opposition Leader’s office, stated that an agreement has been reached on the terms of reference for the inquiry, and all parties have shared their suggestions for a potential commissioner. Kelly Ouimet, director of communications for Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, stated that further details are still being worked out and will be announced in due course.
The Conservatives have expressed their intention to continue pushing for a public inquiry to be called as soon as possible. The opposition parties have been advocating for an inquiry for months due to allegations of Chinese government interference in the last two federal elections. Initially, former governor general David Johnston was appointed as a “special rapporteur” to review documents and interview individuals involved, with the expectation of deciding by the end of May whether an inquiry was necessary. However, Johnston’s report concluded that an inquiry was not appropriate due to the classified nature of the evidence. Opposition parties criticized this decision and accused Johnston of bias towards Trudeau. Johnston subsequently resigned, citing the hyper-partisan environment surrounding the issue.
All parties agree that the 2019 and 2021 federal elections were not compromised, but opposition MPs argue that a public inquiry is necessary to instill confidence in the electoral system. Opposition parties had hoped for the government to announce the inquiry before the summer break, but the House of Commons agreed to rise two days early without reaching such an agreement. The next sitting of MPs is scheduled for September 18.
The Conservatives are urging the inquiry to primarily focus on the government’s handling of foreign interference, including what it knew about China’s alleged meddling, when it became aware, and how it responded. On the other hand, the NDP is advocating for a broader inquiry that encompasses foreign interference in general, not limited to the actions of the Chinese government.
In conclusion, discussions regarding a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada have been described as productive, with agreements reached on key aspects. However, further details are still being worked out and will be announced in due course. The opposition parties continue to push for the inquiry to be called as soon as possible, with differing priorities on the scope of the investigation.
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