Liberal and New Democrat MPs voted together Thursday evening to prevent David Johnston from being summoned to testify regarding his involvement with the Trudeau Foundation (TF). . Trudeau Foundation and China Flag .The Commons Public Accounts committee, with a vote of 6 to 4, decided to adjourn the debate on an order that would have compelled Johnston to appear as a hostile witness, according to Blacklock’s Reporter..“Elevating it to a summons is a demand,” said Conservative MP John Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest, NB), chair of the committee. .“It is a demand that is rarely rejected because it is akin to a court order. It virtually obliges the individual to appear.”.Despite repeated requests from the committee, Johnston had previously rejected testifying about his involvement with the TF. .On April 10, the CEO and board of the TF stepped down after it was revealed that the charitable organization, which receives taxpayer funding, had misreported a $140,000 donation from a donor associated with China Central Television and the Communist Youth League..“The system would breakdown if we allow witnesses to defy a request,” said Williamson. .“Witnesses do not excuse themselves because they don’t feel like coming.”.A one-sentence motion before the committee asked that “in relation to its study on the Trudeau Foundation, the committee authorize the chair to summon witnesses on its behalf.” Conservative and Bloc Québécois MPs supported the motion..“Our time is limited,” said Bloc MP Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné (Terrebonne, QC). .“We need to act to be able to do what we were mandated to do, carry out a study on the Trudeau Foundation.”.Liberal and New Democrat MPs opposed the motion as too harsh. “A summons is an extraordinary step,” said Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre, ON)..“If this is the direction we’re going to go, it’s a minority Parliament and opposition members will try to take the steering wheel,” said Fragiskatos. .“But I think it’s incumbent on us to restore a sense of responsibility.”.“It is like a subpoena from a lawyer,” said Liberal MP Brenda Shanahan (Chateauguay-Lacolle, QC). .“There are legal consequences.”.Summoning Johnston would have been the first time MPs have issued a summons since the Commons Ethics committee subpoenaed Victor Li, the chief financial officer for We Charity, for questioning in 2021. .Parliament rarely enforces committee orders, although there is the possibility of reluctant witnesses being jailed..In 2019, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg disregarded a summons from the Ethics committee and no action was taken against him. .In 2011, the former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Christiane Ouimet declined to appear before the Commons Public Accounts committee regarding allegations of incompetence..Reluctant witnesses who ignored a summons were historically jailed by earlier Parliaments..In 1873, Ottawa Alderman John Heney served five days in jail for refusing to answer questions about attempted bribery..The most recent case was in 1913, when a Montreal contractor was held for three months in Ottawa's Carleton County Jail for refusing to testify in a kickback scheme.
