Previously unreleased video introduced as evidence September 8 in the criminal trial in Ottawa of “Freedom Convoy” leaders Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, shows that police were outnumbered as demonstrators settled in and tension grew as officers in riot gear tried to clear the area near Parliament Hill in February 2022. [node:read-more:link]
The joint Ontario Court of Justice trial of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber, two key organizers of the “Freedom Convoy” blockade of Ottawa in February 22, began in the national capital today. Charges include include mischief, counselling others to commit mischief, intimidation and obstructing police. [node:read-more:link]
Newly-released government files show that federal officials have feared that long-promised legislation which would declare First Nations policing an essential service was being delayed by Assembly of First Nations reservations. A key sticking point evidently has been whether FNs or the provinces should have legislative jurisdiction. [node:read-more:link]
An Ontario man accused of selling potentially lethal sodium nitrite to persons at risk of self-harm in 40 countries faces 12 new charges flowing from a joint investigation by 11 police forces. Kenneth Law of Mississauga is alleged to have use websites to market and sell the preservative and other harmful items and police said today that the new charges are linked to deaths in Ontario. [node:read-more:link]
British police confirmed today that they are investigating the deaths of 88 British residents who bought products from Canada-based websites allegedly offering lethal substances to people at risk of self-harm. It’s one several international inquiries sparked by the arrest in Canada earlier this year of Kenneth Law, charged with two counts of counseling and aiding suicide by offering potentially deadly sodium nitrite for sale. [node:read-more:link]
As some residents of the central B.C. region of Shuswap refused evacuation orders due to wildfires in the area August 23, RCMP faced a group of protestors who had hoped to “overwhelm” a highway blockade. The protesters said they did not believe politicians had the right to prevent them from using the road, and that it was illegal for the RCMP to block it. [node:read-more:link]
Yellowknife residents who evacuated due to wildfire concerns earlier this week are encountering official roadblocks when they try to return. The fact that the fires have not progressed has prompted some evacuees to believe the threat is over but the territorial government said April 23 that it had not cancelled its state of emergency. [node:read-more:link]
Providing contract police services in most provinces and the northern territories, as well as being the lead on federal law enforcement files, the RCMP continues to fall short of baseline staffing across the country. Commissioner Mike Duheme says the force is a “crossroads” as he prioritizes recruitment. [node:read-more:link]
Thousands of residents of south-central British Columbia were advised to evacuate August 18 and even more were on standby due to proliferating wildfires. The provincial government also announced that it prepared to make evacuation compulsory if necessary. [node:read-more:link]
Thousands of residents of Yellowknife and nearby communities threatened by an encroaching wildfire continued to leave the Northwest Territories capital today after a noon evacuation target. Officials said roads would remain open and flights would continue as long as it is safe. Meanwhile, Mayor Rebecca Alta sought to reassure the evacuees that their properties would be protected by the RCMP. [node:read-more:link]
Prime Minister Trudeau has received a confidential report from the National Security & Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians about the RCMP’s federal policing mandate. A declassified and likely redacted version will be presented to Parliament within 30 days of its next sitting, which is scheduled to begin September 18. [node:read-more:link]
RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme says some of his personnel are deployed into dangerous situations with expired hard body armour. Some manufacturers say ceramic or steel plates can degrade and be less effective after several years but others argue that they remain “stable and resistant to degradation” beyond the designed 10-year lifecycle. [node:read-more:link]
Khaled Hussein, 28, of Edmonton, was charged today under British terrorism legislation along with Anjem Choudary, 56, whom Crown prosecutors is a radical preacher previously convicted of aiding the Islamic State. Arrested last week on arrival at Heathrow Airport, Hussein is charged with membership in a proscribed organization. [node:read-more:link]
At the RCMP’s request, two RCAF CH-149 Cormorant air-sea rescue helicopters were called in July 22 to assist in evacuating Nova Scotians stranded by widespread flooding in the aftermath of record rainfall. The AgustaWestland aircraft were deployed from 413 Transport & Rescue Squadron at 14 Wing Greenwood and 103 Search & Rescue Squadron at 9 Wing Gander. [node:read-more:link]
B.C. Solicitor General Mike Farnworth has ordered the province’s second-largest city to continue transitioning to a community police service despite Surrey city council’s plan to maintain services with the RCMP. He said today that the council’s decision caused a “crisis” because the city failed to prevent an exodus of officers and had not shown the RCMP detachment could be staffed without pulling officers from other communities. [node:read-more:link]
