Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says a public inquiry into foreign interference 鈥渉as never been off the table,鈥� following the sudden resignation of special rapporteur David Johnston.
鈥淎ll options remain on the table,鈥� LeBlanc told reporters Saturday. 鈥淭he prime minister said so when he announced the appointment of Mr. Johnston.鈥�
LeBlanc, who is also the minister responsible for democratic institutions, also said that following Johnston鈥檚 resignation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tasked him with 鈥渃onsulting 鈥� experts, legal scholars and opposition parties on what the next steps should look like, and determine who best may be suited to lead this public work.鈥�
Johnston , citing in a letter addressed to the prime minister the intense politicization of his appointment and work as the reason for his departure.
Since he was appointed to the role of special rapporteur in March, Johnston has faced heavy scrutiny from opposition parties for his personal connection to the prime minister. That criticism grew louder when he recommended against a public inquiry, instead suggesting public hearings that would be led by him.
Earlier this month, MPs also voted in favour of a non-binding motion to ask Johnston to step down, but just three days before his resignation, the former governor general testified before a parliamentary committee that he planned to stay on and forge ahead with his mandate.
LeBlanc said he鈥檒l be asking 鈥渙pposition leaders to take this matter seriously,鈥� and to 鈥渘ot just simply say there has to be a public inquiry.鈥�
He said he鈥檇 be in talks with opposition parties to take suggestions on who could lead a public inquiry if one were called, what the timeline would be, and how classified security information should be handled in such a situation, for example.
鈥淭hose are the kinds of conversations we're prepared to have in very short order,鈥� LeBlanc said. 鈥淲e've said all along that all options remain on the table.
鈥淲e think there should be a public process going forward, as Mr. Johnston recommended,鈥� LeBlanc added. 鈥淪o my hope is very quickly, we can come to some consensus around those next steps.鈥�
But LeBlanc also took aim at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre specifically, accusing the Opposition leader of 鈥渃haracter assassination鈥� and 鈥減artisan buffoonery鈥� in the last few months when it comes to Johnston鈥檚 appointment.
Poilievre has repeatedly referred to Johnston as Trudeau鈥檚 鈥渃ottage neighbour鈥� and 鈥渟ki buddy,鈥� and described the role of special rapporteur as a 鈥渇ake job.鈥�
鈥淥ne of the challenges would be many eminent Canadians will understandably hesitate to step forward to undertake this kind of work when they see what the opposition parties did to the Right Honourable David Johnston,鈥� LeBlanc said. 鈥淪o if we can lower the partisan temperature and have a serious conversation about a serious issue, we're confident that we could find the right eminent person to lead this next public phase of the engagement.鈥�
Johnston said his resignation would be effective no later than the end of this month, or as soon as he delivers a 鈥渂rief final report,鈥� which he aims to have done soon.
With files from CTVNews.ca鈥檚 Senior Digital Parliamentary Reporter Rachel Aiello and CTV鈥檚 Question Period Senior Producer Stephanie Ha
