Poilievre doubles down on inquiry calls as Trudeau orders interference probes
Global News
Pierre Poilievre doubled down Tuesday on calls for a public inquiry after Justin Trudeau on Monday announced additional independent investigations into the issue – but not inquiry.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s plans to probe allegations of Chinese and foreign interference do not go far enough, and Canada ultimately needs a public inquiry, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says.
Poilievre doubled down Tuesday on the opposition’s calls for a public inquiry after Trudeau on Monday announced additional independent probes and reviews into the issue – but not an inquiry.
“We want an open, independent public inquiry to get to the truth and make sure it never happens again,” Poilievre told reporters in Ottawa.
“We need to bring home control of our democracy, bring home control of our country, rather than allowing foreign dictatorships to manipulate our interests.”
Instead of calling an inquiry himself on Monday, Trudeau said that decision will be made by an independent, special rapporteur who will have a “wide mandate” to oversee the new probes.
That individual, who will be named in the coming days, will also make recommendations on how Ottawa can better combat foreign interference and inform the public about such attempts.
If they recommend a public inquiry be held, Trudeau said “we will abide by their recommendation.”
Poilievre scoffed at the idea of a special rapporteur, saying it sounds like a “fake job,” but said anyone appointed to the role needs to be approved by the House of Commons, not just the government.