Emergency/ Crisis Management

A day before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act against “freedom” protestors in Ottawa February 14, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warned cabinet of a possibility that the law would “likely increase the number of Canadians who hold extreme anti-government views and push some toward the belief that violence is the only solution to what they perceive as a broken system and government.” Details became public November 7 during the ongoing commission of inquiry into the government’s decision. [node:read-more:link]

A former member of the RCMP and Prime Minister’s personal protection unit says he did not leak the PM’s schedule ahead of last winter’s “Freedom Convoy” gridlock in Ottawa. The allegation was in a redacted Ontario Provincial Police report to the inquiry into the use of the Emergencies Act but Daniel Bulford, who resigned from the RCMP last December because he disagreed with the government’s vaccination mandate, adamantly rejected the suggestion. [node:read-more:link]

Key organizers of last winter’s gridlocking “Freedom Convoy” in Ottawa have told the inquiry into the government’s use of the Emergencies Act to end the protest that some participants evidently were more interested in gaining access to millions of dollars in donations than anything else. [node:read-more:link]

The Ottawa Police Service is investigating allegations that some officers leaked intelligence to organizers of last winter’s “Freedom Convoy” which gridlocked the city’s downtown for weeks. The investigation follows testimony before the inquiry into the government’s use of the Emergencies Act by a lawyer representing some protest organizers. [node:read-more:link]

An investigation is under way into reports that a former member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's security team may have leaked the PM’s schedule, The issue came to light November 3 during the inquiry into the government’s use of the Emergency Act to end the “Freedom Convoy” protest in Ottawa last winter. A redacted intelligence document suggested that the officer, who resigned from the RCMP in 2021, believed that the government’s mandatory coronavirus vaccinations were unconstitutional. [node:read-more:link]

Organizers of last winter’s “Freedom Convoy” protest in Ottawa raised a $24 million through multiple campaigns supported by crowdfunding platforms, electronic transfers and cryptocurrency, the Emergencies Act inquiry was told today by the Public Order Emergency Commission’s own lawyer. [node:read-more:link]

An Alberta lawyer told the Emergencies Act inquiry today that he never thought the federal government would use force against “peaceful Canadians” who blockaded Ottawa’s downtown fore for weeks last winter. Keith Wilson also testified that he and his team believed Ottawa police did not have authority and the idea “that any Canadian citizen was no longer allowed to walk in downtown Ottawa or hold a sign in front of their Parliament was not legally accurate.” [node:read-more:link]

Opening testimony on the latest session of the federal commission of inquiry into the government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act last winter as protesters paralyzed downtown Ottawa for weeks indicates that there was a “power struggle” between protest factions. One of the initial organizers, facing trial next year for his involvement, testified that “as far as I know, we were doing everything within the law.” [node:read-more:link]

After Canadian and U.S. officials conference called last week to discuss the humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti, the federal govrnmnt immediately sent personnel “to consult with stakeholders on . . . how Canada can contribute to the international response.” [node:read-more:link]

Social media posts ahead of last February’s “freedom convoy” which paralyzed the capital for a month were a major concern for the Ottawa Police service, Inspector Russell Lucas has told the commission of inquiry into the federal government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act. The fact that some posts mentioned to the January attack on Capitol hill in Washington prompted fears that the Ottawa protest could be a platform for “anti-government elements.” [node:read-more:link]

Premier Doug Ford of Ontario and his former solicitor general, Sylvia Jones, are challenging a summons to appear as witnesses at the public inquiry examining the federal government's use of the Emergencies Act last February. The call to explain their government’s role in dealing with “Freedom Convoy” protests was issued October 24 after both politicians refused several requests to appear. [node:read-more:link]

The New Democratic Party is reserving judgment on the propriety of the Liberal minority government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act earlier this year. Leader Jagmeet Singh said October 23 that the NDP will await the findings of a commission of inquiry into the government’s decision but “simply because it was the wrong decision wouldn’t be enough for us . . . to force the country into an election” by withdrawing its support in Parliament. [node:read-more:link]

The Toronto Police Service says there is “no further risk to public safety” after it disposed of a suspicious package found at the city’s downtown island airport’s ferry terminal. It said October 23 that it was an “isolated incident” that ended when the package was removed from the terminal and dealt with by a ‘controlled explosion.” [node:read-more:link]

It has been confirmed that RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki reprimanded personnel in Nova Scotia for their communications after last April’s mass shootings in the province. Lucki has said she was not directed by the government to disclose details of the weapons involved but did express frustration with her officers who suspected political interference. [node:read-more:link]

An Ontario Provincial Police operations commander has testified at the hearing into the federal government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act in response to the “freedom convoy” in Ottawa last February that dysfunction within the Ottawa Police Service. “We couldn't read their minds as to what their plan was because there was no plan,” Superintendent Craig Adams said. [node:read-more:link]