By Canadian Press

Conservatives say parties reach agreement on terms for foreign interference inquiry

Jul 7, 2023 | 6:34 PM

OTTAWA, Ill. — The Conservatives say all parties agreed tonight on the scope for a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada.

The agreement appears to break the impasse between the governing Liberals and the Conservatives about how to proceed with negotiations to establish a probe into efforts of foreign governments to interfere in Canada’s elections and governance.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc was dispatched in June to work with the other parties on a path forward after foreign interference special rapporteur David Johnston resigned.

Johnston’s initial investigation and recommendation against holding a public inquiry angered opposition parties and the Conservatives accused him of bias in favour of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The talks seemed close in late June, but the Liberals insisted all parties had to agree on the terms of reference and the name of the commissioner before announcing an inquiry while the Conservatives were adamant an inquiry had to be announced before they would agree to anything specific.

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Conservative party spokesman Sebastian Skamski says that during a meeting tonight between LeBlanc and the other party House leaders, an agreement was reached on the terms of reference and all have now shared names of possible commissioners.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 7, 2023. 

The Canadian Press