Global Courant
Canada’s special rapporteur on foreign interference has cut ties with crisis communications firm Navigator, his office confirmed Thursday.
In an earlier statement, a spokesperson for David Johnston told CTV News that Navigator was hired “to provide communications advice and support” at the start of Johnston’s tenure.
On Thursday, Johnston’s office confirmed in an email that the special rapporteur has since severed ties with the Toronto-based public relations, lobbying and crisis management firm.
“While Navigator played no part in deciding whom to interview, or assisted in his intelligence reviews… Mr. Johnston has decided under the circumstances that it would be best to have their involvement with the ISR team to end,” said spokesman Valérie Gervais. said.
“Mr. Johnston would like to thank Navigator for the extensive support they have provided to date.”
Johnston’s move to hire Navigator has raised questions in recent days about how much the company’s services would cost taxpayers. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner was one such critic said in a tweet that it must have been “one hell of a $ contract”.
Navigator’s past clients have included Hockey Canada, disgraced former CBC host Jian Ghomeshi, and former Ottawa Police Chief Peter Sloly, whom the company hired during the Freedom Convoy in early 2022 to help send messages while criticizing the way he handled the weeks-long protest.
Johnston served as Governor General of Canada from 2010 to 2017 after being appointed by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He was appointed special rapporteur in March to investigate allegations of Chinese attempts to influence Canadian elections.
With files from CTVNews.ca’s Senior Digital Parliamentary Reporter Rachel Aiello and Daniel Otis
