Trudeau names ex-governor general to examine China meddling

The Globe and Mail, citing unnamed intelligence sources, reported last month that China preferred to see Trudeau’s Liberals re-elected in the 2021 election and defeat conservative politicians seen as unfriendly to Beijing. Worked for

The Governor-General is the representative of the monarch of the United Kingdom as head of state, and holds a largely ceremonial and symbolic position. Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Johnston as governor general in 2010, and under Trudeau his tenure was extended until 2017.

Johnston holds law degrees from Cambridge University and Queen’s University. He was a law professor for 45 years and president of the University of Waterloo.

Opposition parties have been demanding a full public inquiry into Chinese interference.

Trudeau has said that all political leaders agree that the election results in 2019 and 2021 were not affected by foreign interference. But he has said that even if it does not change the outcome, the intervention of a foreign actor is troubling and serious.

A panel of civil servants recently released a report that concluded there were foreign attempts to interfere, but none affected the outcome of the election.