Ottawa taps Quebec judge to lead foreign interference inquiry: sources
foreign interference in Canadian elections and society.Marie-Josée Hogue, a puisne judge of the Court of Appeal of Quebec, has been tapped to lead the inquiry, a government source told Global News Thursday. Two government sources also confirmed the news to The Canadian Press.Hogue was appointed as puisne judge in the Quebec appeals court on June 19, 2015, according to the court’s website.
Hogue had been a partner with the firm McCarthy Tétrault since January 2014.Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who is also the minister for democratic institutions, is scheduled to speak about the inquiry at 11:30 a.m. eastern.Hogue was previously a partner with Heenan Blaikie LLP, and a law clerk to Antonio Lamer of the Supreme Court of Canada from 1988 to 1989.
Hogue’s main areas of practice were corporate commercial litigation, civil litigation and professional liability.She also practised administrative law and constitutional law, according to the court.Hogue’s appointment comes after a months-long search for a judge to head an inquiry after former governor general David Johnston, the special rapporteur looking into allegations of foreign interference, resigned from the role in June amid accusations of bias.LeBlanc, who has been meeting with opposition parties since Johnston’s resignation, said last month the government was in the “final stages” of setting up an inquiry.LeBlanc said the complex questions about the structure and management of such a probe are for practical purposes already agreed on. He added it was taking time because there are specific protocols that must be followed when dealing with judges currently on the bench.He would not confirm or deny reports that the government hasn’t been able to find anyone willing
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