'Appearance of bias' undermines special rapporteur's mission, Singh says

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says that despite special rapporteur David Johnston's personal credibility, the appearance of bias in favour of the Liberal government is undermining the very work that he's trying to accomplish.

"I believe he's a person that is very credible and has worked for the country in a way that is really honourable," Singh said in an interview on Rosemary Barton Live Sunday.

"The problem we're up against, though, is the work he's supposed to do is restore confidence in our electoral system, and the appearance of bias is so strong now that he can no longer do that work. The trust necessary is eroded because of the appearance of bias," Singh told CBC chief political correspondent Rosemary Barton.

Singh likened the situation to public trust in the justice system, which is sustained in part by a level of transparency and attention to process. He emphasized that he was only talking about the "appearance" of bias.

Johnston has been under fire from opposition parties since he was tasked by the prime minister to look into allegations of foreign interference in Canadian elections by China. He delivered his first report on the issue late last month and recommended against a public inquiry.

The NDP leader detailed his opposition to Johnston's continued role days after the House of Commons passed a motion proposed by his party calling on Johnston to resign. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood by the former governor general, saying Friday that he looked forward to the public hearings on foreign interference Johnston will be conducting this year.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has condemned Johnston's selection as special rapporteur, given ties between Johnston and Trudeau going back to the prime minister's childhood.

"All the parties in the House of Commons should come together and agree on someone who is not partisan, not connected to any party leader and who has a track record of objectivity, preferably as a judge," Poilievre said Friday.

Johnston himself refused this week to step down.

"I deeply respect the right of the House of Commons to express its opinion about my work going forward, but my mandate comes the government. I have a duty to pursue that work until my mandate is completed," he said in a media statement.

While Poilievre has been harsh in his critique of the government's handling of the foreign interference issue so far, including calling Johnston's role a "fake job," Singh has walked a line between opposition and co-operation. Both parties, though, have called for a public inquiry, rather than Johnston's hearings.

Poilievre has refused to be cleared to see the confidential portion of Johnston's first report, but Singh says he would like to view the documents.

He told Barton that the exact timeline for that was still not clear, adding he was awaiting written guarantees — he said he had received verbal assurances — that he would still be able to opine on the government's response to the issue.

"I want to be able to have the same latitude that Mr. Johnston had, and it's already been assured that that will be the case," Singh said.