Poilievre calls on Singh to force a foreign interference inquiry

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to drop the NDP's support for the Liberals in the House of Commons to force the government to call a public inquiry into foreign political interference.

Former governor general David Johnston, now special rapporteur on foreign interference, tabled a report Tuesday recommending the government not move forward with a public inquiry, citing the sensitive nature of the intelligence an inquiry would have to examine.

Johnston instead recommended that he lead public hearings on foreign interference and said he'd produce a second report at the conclusion of his tenure as special rapporteur in October.

But opposition parties, all of which have called for an inquiry, blasted Johnston's recommendation Tuesday and renewed their demands for an inquiry into foreign interference. Trudeau said Tuesday the government would follow Johnston's recommendation and not call an inquiry.

On Wednesday, Poilievre said it's down to Singh to force an inquiry. The NDP has a supply and confidence agreement with the Liberals in the House of Commons.

WATCH | Poilievre calls on Singh to 'do his job' and force a public inquiry

"Well, it's up to Jagmeet Singh, isn't it?" Poilievre told a news conference.

"Is Jagmeet Singh going to stay in his coalition with Justin Trudeau and help him cover up this latest scandal? ...  Is Singh going to help Trudeau cover up the interference of a hostile foreign dictatorship in our elections?"

Trudeau appointed Johnston special rapporteur after a series of media stories from The Globe and Mail and Global News sparked controversy over alleged Chinese government interference in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections and Beijing's efforts to influence Canadian politicians and institutions. Johnston substantiated some of the allegations in the stories but said others were "misconstrued" and devoid of context.

Johnston reported he found serious shortcomings in how national security agencies process and communicate intelligence to government, but said he found no evidence the government had knowingly failed to act on foreign interference intelligence.

Singh said following the release of the report that his party would use all tools available to it to pressure the government for an inquiry and that he'd speak with the prime minister on the matter. He did not commit to pulling out of the supply-and-confidence agreement with the Liberals.

But Poilievre said the agreement means Singh is hindering efforts in support of a public inquiry.

"[Singh is] Justin Trudeau's assistant in this cover-up," Poilievre said. 

"If Jagmeet Singh decides for once to do his job and work for Canadians, instead of working for Justin Trudeau, then Parliament can force Trudeau to hold a full public inquiry."