Trudeau says 'full buy-in' from opposition needed before launching new foreign interference probe

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government won't be announcing any next steps on probing foreign interference until the Liberals get 'full buy-in' from the opposition parties, to avoid the process devolving as it did under former special rapporteur David Johnston.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government won't be announcing any next steps on probing foreign interference until the Liberals get "full buy-in" from the opposition parties, to avoid the process devolving as it did under former special rapporteur David Johnston.

"As we put forward proposals to the other parties on how we can move forward to restore Canadians' confidence in our abilities to fight foreign interference, we will ensure before we launch any next process, that there is full buy-in by the other parties on how it will be done, and who will do it," Trudeau told reporters on Wednesday.

In the aftermath of former rapporteur David Johnston's resignation earlier this month citing a "highly partisan atmosphere" in the lead up to and following his recommendation against a public inquiry, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc has been locked in negotiations with opposition parties over how to proceed.

There appeared to be momentum leading towards an imminent announcement of a potential inquiry, or other unspecified new process, when the House of Commons adjourned for the summer last week. But, since then there has been no news on whether it could be a full public inquiry after all, who could lead it, or what kind of timeline would be set on this investigation of the issue.

On Monday, Johnston submitted his final wrap-up report to the prime minister, formally concluding his work. This confidential addendum to his initial findings is not being made public, but access to it is being offered to opposition party leaders, if they pursue the requisite security clearance.

Expressing that the issue of foreign interference requires "responsible leadership and a serious approach" Trudeau said the way the entire Johnston chapter unfolded between March and June is the reason the Liberals won't be making any further moves towards a new probe until all parties are on-side with whatever the next steps are. 

"We saw the excessive partisanship and toxicity that was aimed at, and rendered it impossible for our esteemed former governor general David Johnson to actually be able to continue his work," Trudeau said.