WHAT A MESS — During an embargoed reading of DAVID JOHNSTON’s report Tuesday the quiet in the media lockup was punctuated by the sound of heavy exhales and the occasional muffled “Jesus Christ.” Johnston’s interim conclusion that Canada’s intelligence-delivery system has “serious shortcomings” isn’t new. Prime Minister JUSTIN TRUDEAU and Conservative Leader PIERRE POILIEVRE came out with wins. Global News and its reporting on MP HAN DONG did not. The 56-page report rejected demands for a public inquiry in favor of public hearings. Translation: In governmentese that means "consultations" — making it just about the most Ottawa response ever. Former MP KENNY CHIU tells Playbook he’s disappointed with Johnston’s prescription. The Conservative warns it will fail to get to the depth and breadth of China’s foreign interference in Canada. The process is flawed, he said, urging that Johnston be replaced with a rapporteur without any link to the Liberals or the Trudeau family. “Mr. Johnston may be capable and did the job perfectly as governor general, but unfortunately, that doesn't mean he's suitable and the proper person for everything else,” Chiu said, “Especially somebody who's to call whether an inquiry is needed.” The rapporteur’s report focuses on stories covered in the news, Chiu said of the blindspots in Johnston’s findings. “What about the reports that have not been covered by the whistleblower or the media to date?” Here are five other ways to look at the report: Leaks are driving foreign policy. Johnston’s report found “no intelligence” to indicate Beijing took steps to threaten MICHAEL CHONG’s family, despite evidence the Chinese government was “looking for information” on the Conservative MP. An intelligence leak to the Globe and Mail alleged Toronto-based Chinese diplomat ZHAO WEI was involved in a plan to intimidate Chong and his extended family in Hong Kong. Foreign Affairs Minister MÉLANIE JOLY declared Zhao a persona non grata on May 8, a week after the Globe published its story. “We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs,” Joly said in a statement at the time. A memo, according to Johnston’s report, was written in May 2021 about the plot to target Chong. The intelligence was sent from Canada’s spy agency to former public safety minister BILL BLAIR and his chief of staff ZITA ASTRAVAS, but neither received it. Chong learned about the memo two years later. Partisan noise is complicating the public’s understanding of China's long-term interest in Canada. “The [People’s Republic of China] is, in general, party agnostic,” read the report. The next line cited intelligence that suggests an unnamed “Chinese community association leader” with apparent close ties to Beijing approached a Conservative election candidate with an offer to fundraise. The example challenges a narrative that mostly Liberals are beneficiaries of any meddling in Canada’s elections by Beijing. Johnston urged Canadians to take a long-term, big-picture view of the issue. “Russian interference in the U.S. came in like a hurricane 5-6 years ago, Chinese interference came in like climate change,” he said, recycling a metaphor used by American National Security Agency senior adviser ROB JOYCE. “It’s longer, persistent, very widespread and very damaging.” The prime minister comes out ahead. Let’s call it a partial win, thanks to a janky intelligence-sharing system (congrats?) that frees some officials from culpability because important information has the tendency to slip through the cracks. Johnston acknowledged China is meddling, but said there’s no proof the government is consciously working to avoid dealing with foreign interference. Watch for the controversy to get downgraded into a process story. Conservatives come out ahead. The Conservative leader told reporters in Quebec City Johnston “did exactly what I predicted” in his decision to not recommend a public inquiry. A golden political I-told-you-so moment. Global News takes a hit. Johnston wrote off Global News reporting that alleged MP HAN DONG had advised the Chinese consulate in Toronto to extend the detention of MICHAEL KOVRIG and MICHAEL SPAVOR. Johnston called it a scurrilous claim that lacked evidence, based on his access to intelligence information. “The allegation is false,” the report read. Dong released a statement Tuesday to say he felt “vindicated.” He said he will go ahead with his defamation lawsuit against the media outlet. “Unfortunately, it is impossible to undo the harm their reporting has caused to me, my family and the communities I represent,” he said. What's next: The House committee on procedure will convene at 2 p.m. on Thursday to discuss Johnston's recommendations. Like Ottawa Playbook? Maybe you know others who’d like to start the day with a free rush of intel. Point them to this link where sign up is free. | 
