Poilievre declined meeting with Johnston on foreign interference

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's office says he is declining to meet with the government's special rapporteur on foreign interference because it is a "fake job" given to someone who is not impartial.

While the Prime Minister, NDP and Bloc Québécois leaders have all met with David Johnston as he determines whether the government should call a public inquiry into interference, Poilievre's office declined a meeting.

In an initial conversation with CBC News, a Poilievre spokesperson said Johnston's team had only offered a 48 hour window to meet, which did not fit the Conservative leader's schedule. In a statement issued hours later, director of media relations Sebastian Skamski expressed that Poilievre's refusal to meet was not because of scheduling.

"Mr. Johnston is a ski buddy, cottage neighbour, and family friend of the Prime Minister," said Skamski, also describing the role of special rapporteur as "a fake job."

Conservatives call for 'full, independent public inquiry' 

He cited Johnston's previous role with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation as another cause for concern. The Foundation accepted a $140,000 donation that has become the subject of controversy in recent months after the Globe and Mail reported it was directed by Beijing in an attempt to influence the Prime Minister. The money was returned in mid-April.

Skamski said that Johnston should "immediately hand this job off to someone impartial to hold a full, independent public inquiry."

The Prime Minister has decried criticisms of Johnston as "horrific, partisan attacks against a man of extraordinary integrity."

Trudeau has also repeatedly said he has not been involved in the foundation for years and had no knowledge of the donation.

Despite Poilievre's refusal to meet, his office has shown some co-operation with the special rapporteur, said Skamski, complying with an email request for information about any past experiences with potential foreign interference.

Those experiences are limited, given that Poilievre has only been the leader of the Opposition for a matter of months and hasn't yet led the party in a general election, said the spokesperson.

CBC News reached out to Johnston for comment. The Privy Council Office, which is handling Johnston's media requests, said that given Johnston's "independence and the ongoing nature of his work," it would be inappropriate to discuss the details of his meetings. 

PM, NDP and Bloc leaders met with Johnston

Both NDP and Bloc leaders met with Johnston as he prepares his report into whether a public inquiry is needed into foreign interference in Canadian elections, and so has Trudeau.

"It was a productive meeting, we emphasized the need for a public inquiry," said Anne McGrath, the NDP's national director, citing Canadians' anxieties on the issue of foreign interference. She met with Johnston along with the party's leader, Jagmeet Singh, and Vancouver-East MP Jenny Kwan on May 1. 

According to a party spokesperson, it was the NDP that requested the meeting with Johnston.

The party wanted Kwan to attend as "she has been very active hearing from the Chinese community about their concerns regarding foreign interference," and hoped to "ensure that the impact on everyday people was considered."

Last week, it emerged Kwan has also held a video call with CSIS to discuss potential interference by China targeting her.

WATCH | Bloc leader describes meeting foreign interference special rapporteur

Bloc Québécois leader describes meeting foreign interference special rapporteur last week

2 years ago

Duration 1:14

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says he told David Johnston, the federal government's special rapporteur, that he wants 'nothing less' than a public inquiry into foreign interference. Johnston, the former governor general, was tapped to investigate claims that China meddled in Canada's last two elections.

In a statement, the Bloc Québécois said leader Yves-François Blanchet and his ethics critic, René Villemure, met with Johnston a week ago. 

"I told him that we wanted nothing less than an independent inquiry. This should come as fast as possible," Blanchet told journalists, noting the party wants the definition of an independent commission to be clear and unequivocal. It also wants the commissioner of the inquiry to be named by Parliament. "We did not invite each other to supper afterwards." 

Trudeau met with Johnston sometime in the last few weeks, the Prime Minister's Office said. 

Responding to a request for comment, Green Party of Canada co-leader Elizabeth May simply said her party was "not consulted" by Johnston's office.

Johnston is set to make a call on a public inquiry into foreign election interference by next Tuesday, along with other recommendations. The government has said it will abide by all of his decisions.