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TORONTO, March 16 (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday named the former governor-general as a special investigator to investigate allegations of Chinese interference in Canada’s last two elections.
Trudeau announced Wednesday that David Johnston will serve as special rapporteur. Johnston will decide whether a public inquiry is needed, and Trudeau has said he will abide by the recommendation.
The Globe and Mail reported last month, citing unnamed intelligence sources, that China would prefer to see Trudeau’s Liberals re-elected in the 2021 election and try to defeat Conservative politicians seen as unfriendly to Beijing
The Governor-General is the representative of the British monarch as head of state, serving mainly ceremonial and symbolic functions. Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Johnston Governor-General in 2010, and his term was extended until 2017 under Trudeau.
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Johnston holds law degrees from Cambridge University and Queen’s University. He was a law professor for 45 years and was also chancellor of the University of Waterloo.
Opposition parties have been demanding a full and public inquiry into alleged Chinese interference.
Trudeau has said all political leaders agree that the 2019 and 2021 election results will not be influenced by foreign interference. But he said any interference by foreign actors was disturbing and serious, even if it did not change the outcome.
A civil service panel recently released a report concluding that foreign interference was attempted but did not affect the election result. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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