Ottawa/IBNS: Canada’s special rapporteur on foreign interference, David Johnston, insisted that he is unbiased even though he has enlisted the help of experts with links to the Liberals and NDP.

Since his appointment, Johnston has been accused of being unfit for the job due to his connections to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Conservative and Bloc Québécois parties were reported to say that Trudeau and Johnston being close friends, their longstanding ties do not allow Johnston to make any judgement on the prime minister’s actions.

Johnston argued although they had been childhood friends, he hasn’t had any meetings, dinners or personal contacts with Trudeau in the past 40 years.

Johnston told the procedure and House affairs committee on Tuesday that he has received unpaid informal advice from Don Guy, former chief of staff to former Ontario Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty, and Brian Topp, chief of staff to Rachel Notley when she was the NDP premier of Alberta.

Johnston also argued their involvement doesn’t compromise his work.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)