by
Former Governor General David Johnston’s refusal to testify comes after he recently ruled not to have a public inquiry to investigate alleged Communist Chinese Party election meddling.
(LifeSiteNews) — Former Governor General David Johnston, whom Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed as “special rapporteur,” has refused to testify regarding his involvement in the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Johnston would not take questions from Members of Parliament about his work at the Trudeau Foundation, as Members of the Commons public accounts threaten to summon him to testify regarding the Trudeau Foundation’s link to Communist China.
“We have a meeting scheduled for a week from today with individuals who have been involved with the Trudeau Foundation,” said chair of the committee, Conservative MP John Williamson of New Brunswick Southwest. “I regret to inform you all, I have three who have declined, including the Right Honourable David Johnston.”
Liberals expressed alarm over the prospect of the Commons public accounts committee summoning Johnston to testify.
“On this summons, this is typically not something we have in this committee,” Liberal MP Brenda Shanahan of Chateauguay-Lacolle, Quebec said. “It does seem like a drastic step.”
“A move to summon witnesses as this motion calls for, I think, is a giant leap in the wrong direction,” said Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos of London North Centre, Ontario. “I don’t see the need for a formal summons at this point.”
The witnesses who refused to testify were Edward Johnson, chair of the Foundation, and Mel Cappe, a Foundation mentor.
“It has been frustrating,” Williamson said. “We have no one willing to appear.”
Johnston’s refusal to testify comes after he recently concluded there should not be a public inquiry to investigate alleged Communist Chinese Party (CCP) election meddling because the matter could involve divulging state secrets.
In March, Trudeau appointed Johnston as an “independent special rapporteur” to investigate the allegations that China was meddling in Canada’s elections, despite Johnston being a known “family friend” of the Trudeaus.