David Johnston resigning as special rapporteur on foreign interference
CBC
David Johnston — tasked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau back in March with looking into allegations that China tried to meddle in the past two federal elections — says he has decided to step down from that role.
In a resignation letter sent to Trudeau, Johnston said his role has become too muddled in political controversy for him to continue.
"When I undertook the task of independent special rapporteur on foreign interference, my objective was to help build trust in our democratic institutions," the former governor general wrote.
"I have concluded that, given the highly partisan atmosphere around my appointment and work, my leadership has had the opposite effect."
A government source said Johnston made his own decision to resign and wasn't asked to step down by the Prime Minister's Office.
Since his appointment, Johnston has been accused of being unfit for the job because of his personal connections to Trudeau.
The leaders of the Conservative and Bloc Québécois parties have both said Trudeau and Johnston are self-declared friends and their longstanding ties are too close to allow Johnston to judge the prime minister's actions.
Johnston has said that while he was friends with Pierre Trudeau and skied with the Trudeau family back when Justin Trudeau and his brothers were children, he hasn't had any meetings, dinners or personal contacts with Trudeau in the past 40 years.
WATCH | Johnston says he doesn't regret taking on role
That didn't stop opposition parties from questioning Johnston's investigation of foreign interference. Even the NDP — which currently has a supply-and-confidence deal with the governing Liberals — put forward a motion in the House calling on Johnston to step aside because of an "appearance of bias." The motion passed with Conservative and Bloc support.
At the time, Johnston said he planned to stay on until his mandate was complete.
In his initial report released last month, Johnston recommended against calling a public inquiry on foreign interference — despite opposition parties and diaspora groups calling for one.
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc took aim at the Conservatives after Johnston's announcement.
"The partisan attacks levied by the Conservative Party against the former governor general were unwarranted and are unacceptable. Democracy requires us to rise above partisan considerations," he said in a statement.
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