Canadians can rest assured that a public inquiry into foreign interference will take place, according to Peter Julian, the New Democratic House leader. The opposition parties have been pushing for the government to announce the inquiry before the summer break. Intense negotiations have been ongoing for the past two weeks, led by Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc, in an effort to reach a consensus among the parties. Unfortunately, the House of Commons rose without an agreement, but the inquiry negotiations are continuing. Julian expressed confidence that a public inquiry would be established after further discussion.
Julian did not provide specific details about the obstacles in the talks or when resolution can be expected, but he highlighted the NDP’s contribution to the progress made thus far. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet believes an agreement could be reached within a few days or even a few hours, while Government House leader Mark Holland believes a decision could be made “very soon.” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, on the other hand, has stated that he will not provide input on the appointment of a commissioner or terms of reference until the government commits to holding an inquiry.
The government has made it clear that it will not agree to a public inquiry without the opposition parties reaching a consensus on the details. This cautious approach is intended to avoid the intense criticism received when former governor general David Johnston was appointed as a special rapporteur to investigate the issue. Johnston’s ties to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were seen as compromising his impartiality.
Once Johnston announced his resignation, LeBlanc was entrusted by Trudeau to collaborate with the opposition parties to find a way forward. The ongoing negotiations will determine the leader of the inquiry, its scope, and its timeline.
Julian pointed out that the opposition parties have backed two NDP motions in support of a public inquiry, with the most recent motion calling for the House procedure committee (PROC) to select a commissioner and recommend the inquiry’s mandate. Julian expressed optimism that if an agreement is reached, PROC will not need to take further action.
The motion also called for the inquiry to investigate attempted foreign interference from multiple countries, including China, Russia, and Iran. Despite the chaos surrounding allegations of interference in the past federal elections, all parties agree that the election outcomes were not affected, but a public inquiry is necessary to strengthen Canada’s resilience against future attempts.
Holland emphasized that the government has successfully passed 15 bills in 15 weeks, including legislation to establish a national child care plan. The Liberal government made these achievements a focal point despite the challenges faced during this parliamentary session.
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