NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is defending his party’s decision not to include binding orders in its foreign interference motion, which called for David Johnston to step down as special rapporteur, and says an election does not “make sense” if the goal is protecting Canada’s democracy.Singh told The West Block’s Mercedes Stephenson in an interview that aired Sunday that he wants to get a better understanding of the full extent of allegations of foreign interference.“I want to see some steps being taken to safeguard our democracy instead of triggering an election because I’m worried about interference in our elections.
To me, (it) sounds self-serving,” he said.“It’s something that Mr. Poilievre and Mr. Blanchet are calling for because I don’t think they’re very serious about dealing with this issue.”Earlier this week, the NDP’s non-binding motion calling for an inquiry and for Johnston to step down was adopted in the House of Commons by the opposition parties.While such motions can’t bind Johnston as an individual to step down, House of Commons motions can — and in the past, have — included binding orders for the government to produce all kinds of records about matters the parties allege are not being handled properly.The power comes from the right to order the production of documents.