David Johnston has stated that his mandate to investigate foreign interference as special rapporteur comes from the Canadian government, not the House of Commons. This follows a motion passed by MPs on May 31 calling on him to step down from his position. The motion, introduced by NDP MP Jenny Kwan, also requested the establishment of a public commission of inquiry into the matter. Johnston was appointed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March to investigate alleged interference by Beijing in the past two federal elections. The motion raised concerns over Johnston’s recommendations against a public inquiry, and the way intelligence was communicated from security agencies to the government. While Johnston acknowledged that foreign governments attempt to meddle in Canadian politics, he stated that there is still “much work to be done” to identify necessary reforms to preserve the integrity of Canadian democratic institutions.