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

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says that despite special rapporteur David John‐ ston's personal credibility, the appearance of bias in favour of the Liberal gov‐ ernment is undermining the very work that he's try‐ ing to accomplish.

"I believe he's a person that is very credible and has worked for the country in a way that is really hon‐ ourable," Singh said in an in‐ terview 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 ap‐ pearance of bias," Singh told CBC chief political correspon‐ dent 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 "appear‐ ance" of bias.

Johnston has been under fire from opposition parties since he was tasked by the prime minister to look into al‐ legations of foreign interfer‐ ence 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 Fri‐ day that he looked forward to the public hearings on foreign interference Johnston will be conducting this year.

WATCH | Jagmeet Singh discusses David Johnston's future as special rappor‐ teur:

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has condemned Johnston's selection as special rapporteur, given ties be‐ tween Johnston and Trudeau going back to the prime min‐ ister'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, prefer‐ ably 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 govern‐ ment. I have a duty to pursue that work until my mandate is completed," he said in a me‐ dia statement.

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

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

WATCH | Poilievre puts pressure on NDP to influ‐ ence government:

He told Barton that the ex‐ act timeline for that was still not clear, adding he was awaiting written guaran‐ tees — he said he had re‐ ceived 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.

Given the fact the NDP is currently supporting the Lib‐ eral government in a confi‐ dence-and-supply agreement,

Singh theoretically has the power to bring down the gov‐ ernment and force an election over the foreign interference issue.

But he has said he won't force voters to the polls be‐ fore confidence is restored.

"If the problem is we're worried about election inter‐ ference, having an election is not going to solve the prob‐ lem," he told Barton on Sun‐ day, noting that he worried the controversy would only increase voter apathy and de‐ press turnout.

In a separate interview Sunday, Emergency Prepared‐ ness Minister Bill Blair (who served as public safety minis‐ ter between the 2019 and 2021 elections) said he re‐ mained supportive of John‐ ston.

"The job that needs to be done requires someone of a well-known reputation for service to the country, for in‐ tegrity and for trustworthi‐ ness. And I don't know any Canadian who would exceed his reputation for being an in‐ credibly trustworthy and civic-minded Canadian," Blair said.

Blair said that partisan at‐ tacks against Johnston had proved a distraction for his work.

"I think our responsibility is to provide reassurance to Canadians that this will be done in a way that they can trust and that the outcome will help Canada become more resilient," he said, adding that Johnston is "ex‐ ceptionally able" to do that.