QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Foreign Interference
June 13, 2023
Senator Gold, with the resignation of PM Trudeau’s Special Rapporteur last Friday, a public inquiry into Beijing election interference is now the only credible option. We do not need another special rapporteur, we do not need another report where major players in this interference scandal are not interviewed, and we do not need another worthless process led by Prime Minister Trudeau’s friends, his political supporters or members of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. About 60% of Canadians want answers through a public inquiry. The House of Commons has voted three times for a public inquiry. That is the voice of the people in Canada. The half measure of Johnston’s public hearings just won’t cut it.
Senator Gold, when will your Trudeau government do what Canadians, the House of Commons and all opposition parties want and call a public inquiry?
Thank you for your question. As I have stated earlier, Minister LeBlanc has reached out to all of the opposition leaders. My understanding is that your leader and others have said that they would cooperate with the minister to work together to chart a path forward. As Minister LeBlanc also said, a public inquiry was not and is not off the table, but it remains the work of the government, with the opposition parties, to identify the right public process going forward that achieves the results of getting to the bottom of the issues while still respecting the importance of protecting sensitive national security information.
The Government of Canada is pleased that the opposition parties have agreed to work together on that. When they reach an agreement as to the steps forward, that will be announced.
Senator Gold, now that the Special Rapporteur has resigned, the bills will be flooding in for work done on his report.
First, there are the likely eye-watering legal fees for Liberal Party donor Sheila Block and her legal team from Bay Street firm Torys, especially given that, for some unknown reason, they are continuing to rack up sky-high billable hours until the end of June. There will also be money owed to Orchestra for their media relations advice. Taxpayers also are on the hook for paying Navigator, the crisis communications firm for their “communications advice and support.” I sure hope it wasn’t them who advised putting George Washington in a report about Beijing election interference and keeping the Trudeau Foundation out.
The bills are piling up, Senator Gold. How much has Trudeau’s failed attempt to crisis manage this election interference scandal cost Canadians in total? How much? Just the number, please.
Again, the Government of Canada appreciates the work that the Honourable David Johnston did, regrets the degree to which his integrity was impugned and —
— to the Prime Minister.
— looks forward to the constructive engagement of the opposition parties to chart a path forward.
