Once nominated, once rejected. Justin Trudeau eventually appointed former governor-general David Johnston to the mandate of “independent special rapporteur” to advise his government on the record of foreign interference in Canada. But the opposition parties, all of whom are now calling for a public inquiry, have unanimously opposed the creation of this post, which they consider redundant.

Last week, after numerous revelations about attempts by the Chinese regime to interfere in the 2019 and 2021 elections, the Federal Prime Minister promised to create this new role.

David Johnston’s mandate has yet to be defined by Justin Trudeau’s office and the client concerned. Its details will be finalized “in the coming days” and released “thereafter,” Mr Trudeau’s cabinet said on Wednesday afternoon via press release. The schedule is not fixed yet.

However, the former governor-general will have a mandate to “review the last two federal elections,” the document specifies, and “to provide expert advice on how we can better protect our democracy and keep Canadians’ confidence in it.” “.

National security expert Stephanie Carvin finds it “a shame” that the mandate of the special rapporteur is limited to the last two federal elections. The prime minister has already commissioned two bodies – a cross-party parliamentary committee on national security and an expert group monitoring intelligence activities – to investigate these elections. “Foreign interference in Canada is much broader,” particularly in civil society and academia, Mr.^Me Carvin, a professor at Carleton University and a former analyst at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

A survey, nothing else

The mandate was entrusted to 81-year-old David Johnston and is a member of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundationwas immediately rejected by the three major opposition parties in Ottawa, which have been calling for a public inquiry for weeks.

Justin Trudeau argues that this appointment came “after consultation with all parties”. In fact, according to our information, his office would have asked the opposition parties to provide him with the names of potential candidates for the post of special rapporteur on Monday evening.

The Bloc Québécois and the NDP refused to accede to this request and instead called for the appointment of a commissioner responsible for a public inquiry, period.

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet declined to “judge” Mr Johnston’s “service” but accused the prime minister of stubbornly refusing a public inquiry and thereby “using” the special rapporteur. leaving Parliament and the public in the dark”. For his part, the new Democrat Alexandre Boulerice acknowledged David Johnston’s “impeccable reputation” and “integrity” but criticized Justin Trudeau for “lack of leadership” by attributing the decision to “a third party”. entrusted whether or not to set off a public commission of inquiry.

Mr Trudeau has already committed to respecting all of his Special Rapporteur’s recommendations.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre had not reacted when these lines were written. However, his leadership campaign manager Jenni Byrne questioned Mr Johnston’s impartiality and specifically condemned his work as commissioner responsible for organizing the leaders’ debates. “What are the chances that he will conclude that we need a public inquiry? she mocked on twitter.

An expertise as governor general?

Stephanie Carvin says that as a former Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Army, Mr. Johnston had the opportunity to learn national security information. His career as a law professor also gives him “a good background,” said the national security expert.

Justin Trudeau’s office carefully recalled that David Johnston was appointed Governor-General in 2010 by former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. And that he also served as the special adviser responsible for drafting the mandate for a public inquiry into the Airbus affair for the Harper administration.

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